Parliamentary Monitoring Report

20.01.09

Department of Labour (DoL) - Portfolio Committee Meeting

Annual Report of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)

ADRO attended the portfolio committee meeting for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) at parliament. As part of ADRO’s advocacy programme, ADRO’s chairperson Anaclet Mbayagu, lobbied a committee member regarding refugees access to the UIF. Many refugees have told ADRO of their difficulties in accessing this insurance, despite the fact that they (via their employer) have been contributing to the fund. Often these difficulties result from refugees not having up-to-date documentation, since they are waiting for the Department of Home Affairs to renew their section 24 permit. The delays, corruption and backlog at Home Affairs are well known, and ADRO’s advocacy programme potentially includes court action against this department. Refugees are told they can also access this social security by bringing with them to the UIF pay point a letter from their employer. The UIF committee member also confirmed this. However, many of the refugees that are being retrenched do not have the means to appeal to their ex-employer. In many cases the employer believes that they no longer need to accept any responsibility towards their ex-employee and will not cooperate in terms of writing the letter that is required. The committee member agreed to take the matter forward with the Department of Labour and try to implement another way for refugees to access the money they are entitled to from the UIF. ADRO continues to monitor the situation, and will correspond with the committee member in order to track any changes in this area.