Suchergebnisse

This essay provides a reflective commentary outlining Hawai'i's unconventional response for employing a volunteer workforce of public servants when faced with the task of processing an unprecedented backlog of unemployment insurance claims triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although efforts are still ongoing, this essay applies volunteerism and public service motivation as a framework to explain why public servants would serve in a voluntary capacity at another public agency. The intent of this essay is to spur conversation on how public servants are further stepping up to the frontlines during times of crisis, as well as expand knowledge on the relationship between volunteerism and public service motivation.

Abstract
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.

Although administrative hearings are not formal litigation, the process often resembles traditional adversarial adjudication. There are two parties, one has the burden of proof, both present evidence, and there is a ruling on the legal merits. Substantively, the hearing focuses on eligibility for benefits. Procedurally, the hearing runs like traditional courtroom litigation. Based on direct observation of 45 unemployment insurance claims and interviews with administrative law judges (ALJs), I find ALJs behave differently when there is no legal counsel present. Whereas the law that governs the hearing remains the same, the process for pro se claimants is substantively different.