Coronavirus: impact on the workplace - part 3 updated
Covid 19 Temporary Employee / Employer Relief Scheme (TERS)

To assist in paying employees when operations (or a part thereof) have closed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Minister gazetted a Directive called Covid 19 Temporary Employee / Employer Relief Scheme (TERS) which is listed under Worklaw's legislation section.

This Scheme has since been amended - see TERS Amendments We have updated this Newsflash from an earlier version, to cater for these Amendments.

To assist subscribers, Worklaw has created a Covid 19 specfic index of relevant documents under its legislation section. There is also a Guide on using the Scheme called Covid 19 TERS Benefits Easy AID for Employers which is also listed there.

The Preamble to the Scheme encourages employers to continue to pay employees during the lockdown, but where this is not "economically possible", the Scheme creates a special benefit under UIF. It is very difficult at this stage to give informed advice on how to use this Scheme, as the published Scheme and Guide raise many questions.

This newsflash deals with the following in relation to the new TERS Scheme:

	Qualifying to participate
	Applications to participate
	Documentation Required
	Salary Benefits
	Illness Benefits
	Utilising Annual leave during the lockdown
	Clothing Sector Collective Agreement
	Certificate to trade as an essential service