To obtain membership of the Council benefit funds/schemes, these employees and employers must fall within the registered scope of this Council and this Collective Agreement must prescribe their wages.

Membership of either the Furnmed Sick Benefit Society or the NUFAWSA Sick Benefit Society may be obtained by qualifying in terms of the applicable Fund's rules and by electing to become a member. Contributions payable to either of these Funds, if applicable, are as prescribed in ADDENDUM 1.

[Chapter 2(3)(3.1) substituted by section 9(1) of Notice No. 333, GG43447, dated 19 June 2020]

An employee who has been a member of either of the Sick Benefit Societies prior to 1 May 2020, is regarded as an existing member and shall from the first full pay week in May 2020, be paid a prescribed medical allowance per week by the employer and the employee shall pay the weekly contributions to the relevant Society, as prescribed in Addendum 1.

From the first full pay week in May 2020 for parties and for non parties from the date determined by the Minister, any employee employed by an employer within the registered scope of this Council, for whom wages are prescribed in the Collective Agreement, may apply to become a voluntary member of either the Furnmed Sick Benefit Society or the NUFAWSA Sick Benefit Society, subject to the employee qualifying in terms of the applicable fund rules and the employee concerned, paying the prescribed employee only contributions as reflected in Addendum 1, to the relevant Society. If successful, the rules of the Fund concerned shall apply to the member.

Any employee employed by an employer within the registered scope of this Council, for whom wages are prescribed in the Collective Agreement, may apply to become a member of either the Furnmed Sick Benefit Society or the NUFAWSA Sick Benefit Society, subject to the employee qualifying and both the employer and employee concerned, paying the prescribed contributions which are applicable to the relevant Society. If successful, the rules of the Fund concerned shall apply to the member.

Employees who are employed in the Industry for whom wages are not prescribed in this Agreement may be admitted as voluntary members of the Furnmed Sick Benefit Society or NUFAWSA Sick Benefit Society in terms of the relevant Society's rules.

Employees who were existing or voluntary members of the Furnmed Sick Benefit Society or NUFAWSA Sick Benefit Society immediately prior to permanent retirement from the Industry owing to old age (65 years or more) or to permanent disability as substantiated by a medical certificate(s), or dependant widows/widowers of deceased continuation members may be admitted as continuation members of the Furnmed Sick Benefit Society or NUFAWSA Sick Benefit Society depending on the original Society's membership.

Membership of both the Societies shall terminate within one month of a member leaving the Industry.

If at any time the reserves of the Furnmed Sick Benefit Society or NUFAWSA Sick Benefit Society drop below the average of one month's contributions, the payment of benefits shall cease and shall not be resumed until the reserves of the Societies exceed the aggregate of two months' contributions.

If it is established that a member has ceased to be a member of the Furnmed Sick Benefit Society or NUFAWSA Sick Benefit Society, and the Society has in. error or contractually paid for any medical expenses incurred by such member and/or his registered dependants, the Fund trustees shall have the right to deduct the amount(s) from the member's Provident Fund contributions and transfer the amount(s) due to the relevant Society.

[Chapter 2(3)(3.3) substituted by section 9(2) of Notice No. 333, GG43447, dated 19 June 2020]