A new SAF sick leave benefit exclusively for MISA Members!!

If you are a MISA member who is registered with the Sick, Accident and Maternity Pay Fund (SAF) by your employer and are booked off for sick leave due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for the new COVID-19 Sick Fund Benefits.

Effective from the 12^th of February 2021, if you have been booked off for COVID-19 quarantine requirements and you either do not have adequate sick leave credits to cater for the 10-day quarantine period, or if you have exhausted your annual SAF sick leave credits and you have a medical certificate, or a COVID-19 positive test result corresponding with the quarantine period; you may be eligible to have a portion of the SAF accident leave benefit converted into COVID-19 sick benefits.

In order to be eligible for this benefit you need to:

1. Have been a MISA member for at least 4 consecutive weeks as at date of application;
2. Have been a member of the SAF Fund for at least 13 consecutive weeks, with the employer’s contributions to the fund on your behalf up to date as at date of application;
3. Have a COVID-19 positive test result or a medical certificate indicating that you have been booked off for COVID-19 quarantine purposes;
4. Have exhausted your annual sick leave credits or not have adequate sick leave credits to cater for the quarantine period;
5. Submit the application (i.e. a duly completed SAF Claim form and a corresponding medical certificate/COVID-19 positive test results) to MISA at Training@ms.org.za;
6. Remain a member of MISA for at least 12 months after the approval of the application; and
7. Remain a member of SAF for whom your employer shall contribute for at least 12 months after the approval of the application.

A member will only be eligible for this benefit once in a 12-month period, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.

This benefit shall not be considered where:

1. The applicant is not a MISA member;
2. The applicant is not a member of the Sick, Accident and Maternity Pay Fund;
3. The applicant does not meet the applicable MISA and SAF membership eligibility periods;
4. The applicant does not possess a corresponding medical certificate or COVID-19 positive test results;
5. The medical certificate or COVID-19 positive test results precedes the period of sick leave/quarantine applied for;
6. The medical treatment or the COVID-19 test was conducted post the COVID-19 quarantine leave period applied for;
7. The applicant has adequate sick leave to cater for the 10-day COVID-19 quarantine leave period;
8. The application is for sick leave taken prior to 12^th February 2021; or
9. The leave required is not for COVID-19 quarantine purposes.

The benefit is intended to ensure that eligible MISA members do not have to contend with unpaid sick leave for to COVID-19 quarantine purposes, however, members should not expect that they will receive any financial pay-outs as a result of the benefit.

On the other hand, MISA members should not have deductions made against their salaries for the SAF sick leave benefits, as these are employer funded. In order to avoid unnecessary unpaid leave, members need to ensure that they abide by the rules of the Fund for all sick leave taken.

Should you have any queries or require additional information, please contact MISA at Training@ms.org.za or on 011 476 3920.