A body in charge of the government response to the Covid-19 pandemic will not extend its flagship wage protection scheme beyond mid-September, drawing a sharp rebuke from a business lobby group and unions.
The Covid Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme was introduced in March to help employers in distress provide wage benefits to employees via the Unemployment Insurance Fund. It was initially to cover three months, from April to June, and was one of the main pillars of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s R500bn Covid-19 relief package. The scheme was then extended by the government from August 16 to mid-September.