Pretoria – Cabinet says the amendments to the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Bill 2014 will ensure the legislation conforms to the International Organisation standards.
Cabinet approved the amendment bill 2014 for submission to Parliament. This is the second amendment to the Unemployment Insurance Act.
“The amendments go further in alleviating the harmful economic and social effects of unemployment, by conforming to the International Organisation standards of including learners, who are in learnerships and public servants, who are currently not covered in terms of the Act,” acting Cabinet spokesperson, Phumla Williams, said during a post-Cabinet briefing in Cape Town.
She highlighted that the implementation of the amendment bill 2014, will among other things, extend the period of payment of benefits to the contributor from eight months to 12 months. This will enable them to look for alternative employment and earn benefits over a longer period.
“A contributor will also have an extended period in which to lodge a claim, from six months to 12 months. It will also allow for the nomination of beneficiaries in case of death benefits,” Williams said on Thursday.
The proposed amendments also deal with issues such as allowing beneficiaries to claim if they have credits regardless of when they submitted a claim, providing for the nomination of beneficiaries in case of death benefits, assisting in financing the employment promotion projects by the Public Employment Services and giving the Minister the power to vary the income replacement rate through regulations. – SAnews.gov.za
