05-07-2013, 02:51 PM
Pretoria – The Department of Labour has released the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Bill - which aims to address the issue of workers who are presently excluded in the Unemployment Insurance Act - for public comment.
In order to improve the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Unemployment Insurance Board had recommended to Labour Minister, Mildred Oliphant, that the Act should be amended. Oliphant then tabled the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Bill to Parliament and it was approved by Cabinet.
This is the second amendment to the Unemployment Insurance Act following the first amendment made in 2003.
The proposed amendments to the Act aim to include learners; public servants and foreign workers who are currently not covered in terms of the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act.
It also extends the period of payment of benefits to the contributor from eight months to twelve months and extends the period in which a contributor can lodge a claim from six months to twelve months.
The new Bill also proposes to allow beneficiaries to claim if they have credits regardless of when they last submitted a claim and provide for the nomination of beneficiaries in case of death benefits.
It also gives powers to the minister the power to vary the income replacement rate through regulations.
The department said encapsulating public comments in the Bill, it will then be tabled at NEDLAC for social partners to deliberate on the Bill. - SAnews.gov.za
In order to improve the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the Unemployment Insurance Board had recommended to Labour Minister, Mildred Oliphant, that the Act should be amended. Oliphant then tabled the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Bill to Parliament and it was approved by Cabinet.
This is the second amendment to the Unemployment Insurance Act following the first amendment made in 2003.
The proposed amendments to the Act aim to include learners; public servants and foreign workers who are currently not covered in terms of the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act.
It also extends the period of payment of benefits to the contributor from eight months to twelve months and extends the period in which a contributor can lodge a claim from six months to twelve months.
The new Bill also proposes to allow beneficiaries to claim if they have credits regardless of when they last submitted a claim and provide for the nomination of beneficiaries in case of death benefits.
It also gives powers to the minister the power to vary the income replacement rate through regulations.
The department said encapsulating public comments in the Bill, it will then be tabled at NEDLAC for social partners to deliberate on the Bill. - SAnews.gov.za