Fund (UIF) registration
14 March 2007
Good times are looming for employees of the taxi industry as their employers
finally launch a campaign tomorrow, Thursday, to register with the UIF.
The registration of businesses and employees by taxi operators affiliated to
the Gauteng Taxi Council (GATACO), an affiliate of the South African National
Taxi Council (SANTC), will commence through a symbolic function at Turffontein
Race Course in what could result in more than 40 000 new registrations in the
province alone.
According to UIF spokesperson Kgomotso Sebetso, the latest developments
represent a departure from the worrying trend that has seen a mere 3 000 taxi
owners registering since the Department of Labour extended social security to
taxi drivers through the taxi sectoral determination in July 2005.
The sectoral determination extends UIF coverage to taxi drivers,
administrative staff, rank (queue) marshals, fare collectors and cleaners.
"We must admit that the response of the sector to the registration of
workers in the taxi sector has ever since been extremely disappointing. To date
only just under 5 000 of a possible estimated 135 000 taxi drivers in the
country, have been registered with the UIF," Sebetso said.
The media is invited. Details of venue and time are as follows:
Venue: Turffontein Race Course
Date: Thursday, 15 March 2007
Time: 09h00
Enquiries:
Kgomotso Sebetso
Cell: 073 2699 870
Issued by: Department of Labour
14 March 2007
