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Press Statement, 09 February 2021

 

NUM PWV REGION CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE APPROVAL OF TERS APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY WBHO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR

 

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) PWV Region demands an immediate approval of Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) application by the Department of Labour so that workers at the construction company, Wilson Bayly Holmes Ovcon (WBHO), could be immediately paid what is due to them.

 

Thousands of WBHO workers were left in the cold during the lockdown period, unable to access assistance from the government.

 

The TERS benefit was introduced in March last year to help workers affected by the Covid-19 lockdown. It was introduced as the government’s wage protection scheme that could provide relief to workers who did not receive much-needed money during the first five months of the lockdown. It was initially set to run for three months, from April to June. The government then extended the scheme to run from August 16 to mid-September. In November, it was extended for another month, until October 15.

 

Our members did not get their December leave payment because TERS did not approve the application by WBHO. We demand immediate approval of WBHO application so that workers could be paid.

 

Few days before President Cyril Ramaphosa announced lockdown level 5 in March 2020, the NUM and WBHO agreed that annual leave days will be used to pay employees during the lockdown. This agreement was done before the announcement of TERS by the Department of Labour. The WBHO paid full salary to our members during the period of lockdown, and after the announcement of TERS by the Department of Labour, WBHO applied for TERS, so that workers do not forfeit their leave days.

 

Unfortunately, till to date, the TERS application had not been approved by the department, and that led to our members not getting paid their leave bonuses in December 2020. We are urging the Department of Labour to do the honourable thing by approving the application.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Isaac Kazi, NUM PWV Acting Regional Secretary, 064 752 5828

 

The National Union of Mineworkers

7 Rissik Street.

Cnr Frederick

Johannesburg

Tel: 011 377 2111

Cell: 083 809 3257

Web: www.num.org.za<http://www.num.org.za>

Twitter: @Num_Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167