Update on Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) Payment to Bus Passenger Workers

11 May 2020

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) is pleased to inform workers in the bus passenger sector that an amount of approximately R46 million was paid into the South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBAC). These funds will be used to pay employee salaries in line with the TERS (Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme) mandate.

In our statement dated, 29 April 2020, we indicated that the Minister of Employment and Labour (Thulas Nxesi) will be approached to expedite the payment of TERS to “…bargaining councils and employers that applied on time. Furthermore, to exert pressure on struggling businesses to apply for TERS in order to pay employee salaries…” The announcement by the Ministry of Employment and Labour on 03 May 2020, not only clarified the challenges and processes associated with TERS but committed to fast track payments to employers and bargaining councils. The announcement, nevertheless, clarified our concerns by addressing all grey areas relating to TERS.

We commend the Ministry of Employment and Labour and the UIF for heeding our call to accelerate the payment of TERS. Likewise, workers in the road passenger sector will finally be able to receive their salaries. We are optimistic that challenges of compliance including the swift distribution of TERS funds in the security, cleaning and aviation sector will soon be addressed. The delay in payments is primarily caused by the noncompliance of employers. We urge all affected individuals to work with the Ministry of Employment and Labour, UIF and respective unions to report, expose and exert pressure on noncompliant employers. The UIF Toll-Free Call Centre Number is 0800 030 007. The Call Centre is operational from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 22:00.

The attainment of social security transformed working and living conditions during and after the COVID 19 health crisis will be determined by the unity of workers, agitation and political activism. During these testing times, political, ideological and organisational differences must not only be set aside but should be superseded by a collective objective aimed at advancing our class interests. A fundamental lesson from the Coronavirus pandemic is that workers “…have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.” It is from this perspective that we thank workers in general and our members in particular for their courage, eagerness and determination to radically transform existing antagonistic social and economic relations for a new order that places universal social rights before profit maximisation.

Issue by: Comrade Jack Mazibuko (SATAWU General Secretary): (082) 660-4793

: Comrade Anele Kiet (SATAWU Deputy General Secretary): (073) 684-1912