The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has recently paid out a total of R22.6 million to 4 942 former teaching and general assistants employed under Harry Gwala and iLembe District Municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. While this is certainly welcome news for those affected, it is important to note that this payment does not amount to a living wage for these individuals.
At R4 607 per person, the amount disbursed is only a fraction of what is needed to make ends meet. This is especially concerning given the fact that the amount is calculated on the percentage of individual salaries. This means that the average payout could be even less than the already paltry sum of R4 607.
It is clear that the UIF needs to reevaluate their payment structure and ensure that those affected are getting the financial assistance they need to make ends meet. It is also worth noting that the payments being made are only one-time payments and not ongoing sources of income. This means that these individuals will have to find a new source of income in order to survive.
It is therefore important for the government to take into consideration the living wages of those affected and adjust the payments accordingly. The current system is simply not sustainable and is not providing the financial support that is needed. This is a problem that needs to be addressed in order to ensure that those affected are able to survive and thrive.