The Tourism Business Council South Africa (TBCSA) says the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – between it and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) – will be finalised today or tomorrow.
CEO of the TBCSA, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, told Tourism Update that the MoU was to ensure that those in the tourism and travel sector could have fast-tracked access to UIF payments to mitigate the severe negative impact the current COVID-19 pandemic – and South Africa’s subsequent 21-day lockdown – would have on the sector.
He said the MoU was a result of a meeting between the TBCSA and the ministries of Tourism and Labour. “It is clear we need to act fast to ensure the viability of the industry post-COVID-19,” said Tshivhengwa.
Details, including the turnaround time, would be unveiled as soon as the MoU was finalised, he added. “We have been working closely with all the relevant tourism associations in South Africa to collect all their employee information so we can submit this to the UIF.”
This is part of a series of measures government is looking at introducing to help the tourism industry recover post-lockdown.
Earlier this week, Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, said her department was working with various government departments and industry associations to minimise the negative economic impact.
