Local employers loyal to domestics

Most people are continuing to pay their staff during lockdown

TotT's latest Facebook question was: What is your experience with government assistance for domestic workers during the lockdown, especially as the United Domestic Workers of SA says most domestic workers are not on UIF?

The overwhelming response from Port Alfred employers was that they had paid their domestic workers, regardless of the lockdown, and had not depended on them receiving government assistance.

Karen Frances Long said she had continued paying her domestic worker for about three months of the lockdown.

Marlene Nortier-Bowdler also said she had paid her domestic throughout the lockdown.

Gerald and Wanda Loxton said: Paid mine too.”

Colin Taylor said even those employees who did pay UIF had battled to claim it.

Verona Veltman said she also paid her domestic worker for five months, for what she described as paid leave.

Without naming and shaming Beverly Young said: Me too, fully paid no question “of anything else, unlike a few who have shocked me.”

Karen Ramsay Tannahill shared similar sentiments.

I, like Bev, was shocked and “ disappointed by those employers who abdicated.

“I do understand that a number of people were simply unable to afford to pay their domestic staff, but too many people could easily have done so and didn't,” she said.

Gerhild Scholz said she had paid her domestic fully and added that it was a tragedy that the government did not help their people.

Robin Searle also said she had paid her domestic fully.

Erica McNulty said she had paid fully for five months, and that her domestic workers had resumed work.

Cheryl van der Spuy went the extra mile: “Paid in full, plus extra,” she said.

Robin Collett said she had done her level best.

“I paid mine half and gave her groceries too,” she said.

“I couldn't give her full pay as I also had to help my daughter with groceries too, as she was working at the mall and was not paid [for] three of the four months of lockdown.”

Joy de Bruin said: “Paid our domestic in full throughout lockdown and still have not brought her back to work. Still paying.”

Gail Hayes-Bean said she had also continued paying her employees.

“Paid my housekeeper and gardener in full throughout lockdown, as did her two other employers.

“Only one employer hasn't paid her and that is no great loss. She hasn't gone back there,” she said.

Jill Rothman said she had prepared her employees for a time such as this

“I have always paid UIF for my staff for years,” she said.

“During lockdown, claims I submitted for my gardener and domestic worker [who] were paid for the periods March,

April, May and June and I am awaiting a claim for July to August 15 for my gardener.”

Denise Rutgers said her domestic worker was still working on full pay.

Sue Wicks called on domestic employers to pay UIF for their employees who worked more than 27 hours a month.

She said it was the right thing to do.

Kathleen Odendaal said the government only knew about taking money for themselves.

Mpumi Sandlana spoke fondly of her employers.

“My employers Dawie and Irene van der Westhuizen are the best. They even gave me enough food to last the entire lockdown which I decided to share with my neighbours. May God bless them with more.”