JobKeeper and the COVID Supplement to JobSeeker benefits will be gone in a week. The combined effect will be to halve some recipients’ incomes and the rent they can afford.
Joblessness has become a fixture of the South African economy. Understanding the patterns of who is out of work and for how long is key to designing policies to address the problem.
Philosophy can help us see how some of the implicit beliefs we hold about work are mere myths. Success isn’t always due to effort, and the idea some jobs are more shameful to have than others.
Financial hardships in particular are likely to lead to ongoing mental health problems, even as the pandemic subsides. Our program could help many people whose mental health has suffered during COVID.
The base level of JobSeeker and related payments will increase by $50 a fortnight from April 1 under changes that will also toughen the obligations on people seeking work.
It’s important to get the figures right to know if we are truely out of any recession, or if we need further stimulus to help get more people into work.
The government has released the latest Tax Office breakdown of the numbers coming off the program, amid concerns its end in late March will see a rise in unemployment.
The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened unemployment and poverty, showing the need for the government to permanently expand income support to working-age adults.
South Africa’s economic recovery plan must focus on at least three areas: protecting vulnerable populations, supporting the vulnerable sectors and external trade diversification.
Biden proposed $1.9 trillion in new coronavirus relief spending to help with the economic fallout of COVID-19. Four economists have a few ideas for him.