Mining Weekly reports that organised business has called for domestic firms to take steps to ensure that their workplaces are Covid-19-ready in light of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Sunday that the country would transition from lockdown Level 4 to Level 3 from 1 June.
The move will result in many more South Africans returning to work. In welcoming the easing, Business Unity SA (Busa) president Sipho Pityana said it was critical that businesses, big and small, played their part in ensuring workplaces were “corona-ready when employees return to work under Level 3”. Business for SA’s (B4SA’s) Martin Kingston added that a “different premise” was required when restarting business activity, “one where everyone is willing to adapt to fight Covid-19”. He added: “The consistent use of nonpharmaceutical interventions (masks, hand washing and sanitising, social distancing) must become second nature for every individual and every organisation. We must all ensure that working practices are adapted to meet the health, safety, and hygiene protocols required to combat Covid-19.” Business Leadership SA CEO Busi Mavuso advised that, during a meeting between business, the President and some Cabinet members on 21 May, an understanding developed that further transition through the lockdown levels would only occur if business was able to demonstrate that it could operate safely and protect workers. Mavuso noted that the pressure was now on business to innovate and adapt to the crisis.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
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