Improved turn-around time envisaged owing to the decentralisation of pay master services to labour centres
In a quest to try and speed up service delivery and processing of Unemployment Insurance Fund benefits claims, the Department of Labour in the Free State resolved to decentralise Pay Master services to Labour Centres. Pay Masters are officials of the Department tasked to effect payments of UI benefits to clients once all the necessary processes have been concluded.
Currently, these services are centralised in Provincial Office and once applications are processed, they are sent to the said office for payment. This process has been identified as one of the hindrances to effective delivery of quality and real-time services to the clients. Thus a decision was taken to decentralise them (Pay Master services) to Labour Centres.
“As part of this roll out, we are busy training officials who will assume responsibilities associated with Pay Masters. Training has already been given to Labour Centres such as Phuthaditjhaba, Harrismith and Bethlehem. It is envisaged that Welkom, Kroonstad, Bloemfontein and Botshabelo will also receive training in the coming weeks”, said Dr Nandipha Kahla – Acting Chief Director for Free State.
Other Labour Centres in the province such as Petrusburg, Zastron, and Ficksburg, with the exception of Sasolburg Labour Centre which will get its Pay Master at the beginning of the next financial year, will continue using Provincial Office in Bloemfontein to pay their clients. “This is due to the low volume of applications for UI benefits received from those three Labour Centres”, explained Dr Kahla.
The UIF has been established to cushion workers against the loss of income. By doing so it alleviates the harmful economic and social effects of unemployment.
Enquiries:
Josial Ramokoena
Provincial Communications Officer (PCO): Free State
Cell: 083 292 4018
E-mail: josial.ramokoena@labour.gov.za
