THE Department of Labour plans to have the Unemployment Insurance Act amended to increase the benefits for those who have lost their jobs.
Delivering her department's budget speech yesterday, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said the department also proposed that the Act be changed to increase the benefit period from 8 months to 12 months.
"This means workers will be paid over a longer period without additional contributions," Oliphant said.
She also proposed that domestic workers should be included in maternity benefits.
She said workers would be given adequate time to claim UIF by increasing the period from six months to 18 months for death benefits and 12 months for other benefits. "The proposed changes to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act will see domestic workers and farm workers covered by these protective measures."