Unemployment Insurance Claims During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experiences of Temporary Migrant Workers Employed in South Africa

The Covid-19 pandemic was unprecedented and its impact on the overall welfare of people was felt all over the world. In particular, the pandemic exposed the vulnerability of migrant workers. As key role players providing critical services during the pandemic, migrant workers witnessed limited access to social protection. Data gathered through qualitative method using face-to-face interviews, WhatsApp interviews and content analysis of secondary data found limited access of foreign workers to Covid-19 related social protection in South Africa. Foreign workers who did not possess the South African Identity Document, but contributed to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) experienced discrimination. They were not paid the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/ Employee Relief (Covid-19 TERS) for workers in the formal sector. The UIF computer system recognised only South African identity numbers and not foreign passport numbers. Bureaucratic xenophobia was explored to understand the experiences of the foreign workers.