Kwanalu: COVID-19 Update: 09/04/20

This post is for the use of Kwanalu Members only.

 Dear Members

Content:

1. DOH – request for possible facilities
2. Regulation Amendments – Sea ports, cargo operations etc.
3. Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) – New info
4. BUSA impact survey on lockdown on business and requirements for re-opening

 

1.Department of Health request for possible facilities

Kwanalu has been approached by the Department of Health to assist in identifying farmers, co-ops, associations and others who may have structures that they may be willing to rent out. These will be non-medical, meaning that they will be beds with ablutions and a kitchen, for people who have been exposed to positive cases, but who are not able to self-isolate and will therefore be a threat to those near them. What is required is: warehouse / shed / hall which is a minimum of 800 square meters (700 sqm for 100 beds and 100 for kitchen / admin / stores). The Department is willing to lease these premises at an agreed to rate and lessors will have an opportunity to negotiate solid and fair leases. The Department may need to: • install air conditioning to regulate the temperature • build or supply toilets and showers • provide security • establish a kitchen • Confirm the regulatory indemnities and insurances are in place.
Should you, your farm, agribusiness, co-op, association or other be able to assist, please complete the form and Kwanalu will facilitate the information for the Department of Health:

Click here to complete:  https://bit.ly/34lv3wT

 

2.Regulation Amendments – Sea ports, cargo operations etc.

The Minister of Transport on 7 April 2020 released new regulations. The important clauses are summarised as follows below:

1. Measures To Prevent And Combat The Spread Of COVID -19 In The Sea Ports:
   1. Section 5(4) All other cargo vessels will be allowed into all the seaports for purposes of cargo works, replenishing fuel and provisions.
   2. Section 6(7)(a) The following ships are allowed: (í) Cargo working ships;
   3. Section 6(8) The following seaports are open for purposes of handling cargo, refueling and ship supplies:

(i) Richards Bay;

(ii) Durban;

(iii) East London;

(iv) Coega;

(y) Port Elizabeth;

(vi) Mosselbay;

(vii) Cape Town;

(viii) Saldanha Bay.

2. Cargo Operations And Air Freight Operations:
   1. Section 1. During the lockdown period, the transportation of the wines and any other fresh produce products at the seaports and International Airports Designated as Port of Entry for export is allowed.
   2. Section 2. Agricultural Cargo is allowed to be transported to seaports and International Airports Designated as Ports of Entry and exported to the relevant destination.
3. Declaration Of Essential Services For Purposes Of COVID -19:
   1. Section (1) for the purposes of this directions, the following services are declared as critical jobs for essential services:
      • Employees responsible for issuing permits for vehicles carrying an abnormal load.

These directives amend an earlier directive issued by the Minister of Transport on 26 March 2020. Section 7 in those directives dealt with the implementation of a reporting, tracing and monitoring system at seaports.  It previously allowed the loading and off-loading of cargo in and out of commercial ports. In now also provides for cargo vessels to be allowed into port for cargo works and to replenish fuel and provisions.

Directives were also issued in terms of Regulation 11B(6)(a) and (b) of the lockdown regulations of 25 March, which deal with the closure of South Africa’s borders.  Regulation 6(a) provides that all borders are closed except for the transportation of fuel and essential goods.  The latest Directions now specifically allow not only the export of agricultural cargo, but also its transportation to harbours and airports. Specific mention is made of wine and fresh produces: the directives explicitly allow the transport of these goods to harbours and airports to be exported. There is no definition of agricultural cargo in the Directions or the Regulations.  Clearly something over and above just wines and fresh produce is envisaged.

The Directions also specify which seaports are open.

Click here for the new transport regulations: https://bit.ly/34kF3Xn

 

3.Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).

Business for SA (B4SA), the grouping representing all major South African business organisations in respect of the COVID-19 disaster, has welcomed the agreement finalised between government, business and labour at Nedlac on the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).  The notices based on the agreement have been signed by Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi and await imminent gazetting.

The TERS will be funded through accumulated reserves of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) administered by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), and operates in terms of a revised directive issued by the Minister of Employment and Labour on 4 April.
In addition, the benefits are subject to the terms of the memorandum of understanding or standard terms, which have also been published. Benefits are available to all employees who are, along with their employers, contributors to the UIF where the employer has closed its operations, or part of its operations, as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and where an employee has suffered, or will suffer, a loss of earnings. The amount of the benefit will be based on a sliding scale amounting to 38% to 60% of earnings.

Kwanalu has now received  relevant information for use:

1. BforSA TERS media release  2020-04-06 BforSA TERS MEDIA RELEASE[1]
2. TERS benefit summary 202004-06 TERS benefit_summary_030420 (1)
3. TERS vrae en antwoorde
4. Generic Employer MOA 200403 Final Draft Generic Employer MOA
5. Bargaining council MOA for councils that can pay benefits directly to employees Bargaining Council MOA B.docx (councils that can pay benefit directly to employees)
6. MOA for councils that pay benefits directly bargaining council MOA C.docx (councils that cannot pay benefits directly)
7. Government Gazette 43216_08-04_Labour.pdf

 

4.BUSA impact survey on lockdown on business and requirements for re-opening

The aim of this questionnaire is to indicate the impact of the lockdown on production, in collaboration with Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) and BUSA.  Agri SA will receive the responses to this questionnaire and will forward the collated responses to BUSA. The results will be used to identify ways to reduce the costs and maximize the benefits of restrictions on economic activity that result from efforts to fight the pandemic.

Information will only be published or included in documentation in an anonymous form, where the company cannot be identified, unless you indicate otherwise.

 

Please complete our online questionnaire on the impact of the lockdown on business and requirements for re-opening, click here:  https://bit.ly/2JRij86

Please submit responses by 17:00 on Thursday, 9 April 2020.