The subsidy takes the total bailout amount government has given to the Post Office to R9.8-billion since 2014. The company, which has been in business rescue - a form of bankruptcy protection - since July 2023, has asked treasury for a further R3.8-billion from the public purse.
According to a Thursday statement by the chair of parliament's portfolio on communications and digital technologies, Khusela Diko, the R381-million subsidy will come from the labour department's Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme Ters fund.
"This is a much-needed lifeline that the state is both morally and duty bound to extend," Diko said in the statement. "The wage subsidy signals an important milestone in the ongoing work to rescue, resuscitate and ultimately futureproof the Post Office. The subsidy is expected to reduce its cost burden and forms part of the building blocks towards the completion of business rescue processes."