The Department of Employment and Labour says it has made significant progress helping former teaching assistants and general workers apply for benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
The former teaching and general assistants were employed as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) – to reduce youth unemployment and increase job creation in the country.
When their contracts ended, the former employees qualified to claim unemployment insurance benefits from the UIF.
Giving an update on the progress of the campaign, the department said that the fund recently paid out around R22.6 million to 4 942 former teaching and general assistants, who were employed under Harry Gwala and iLembe District Municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal.
These payments were processed between 20 and 23 February 2023, when the UIF took services to clients via its mobile buses.
This comes after the UIF resumed its campaign to assist clients at the start of the year in the Amajuba District Municipality.
The campaign initially started in November 2022, and to date, a cumulative R98.4 million has been paid out to 22 037 beneficiaries, who were employed in various districts in the Kwazulu-Natal province.
As of 6 March 2023, the Fund will continue with processing and paying out claims in areas around the uMkhanyakude and uMzinyathi District Municipalities. Former workers living in these areas have been encouraged to participate and visit the venues on the stipulated dates.
The pay-out claims at uMkhanyakude District, will be processed on:
- 6 March 2023: Manguzi Education Centre
- 7 March 2023: Sisizakele Special School in Ngwavuma
- 8 March 2023: Sinethezekile Secondary School in Jozini,
- 9-10 March 2023: Inkosi Mzondeni Hall in Mtubatuba near kwaMsane Clinic.
At uMzinyathi District, the pay-outs will be processed on:
- 6-7 March 2023: Spring Lake High School (Endumeni/ Nquthu).
- 8-9 March 2023: Ukukhanya komsinga Special School in Msinga; and
- 10 March 2023: Greytown High School.
Clients wanting to lodge claims are urged to bring allow the following:
- A valid Identity or Passport Document,
- A fully charged smartphone with data,
- A black pen
- Proof of valid banking details.
Furthermore, to increase the employment prospects of former teaching and general assistants, the departments Public Employment Services (PES) branch will be present on-site to register the CVs of the unemployed clients on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) system.
“ESSA is a system where work seekers can register their CVs for possible jobs and also search and apply for new job opportunities.”
The system can be accessed on https://essa.labour.gov.za/EssaOnline/WebBeans/.
The campaign is set to conclude in the King Cetshwayo District, the department said that dates and venues will be announced in due course on the Fund’s social media platforms and through the media.
