News24 reports that the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) has vowed to temporarily shut down Dis-Chem’s retail warehouse in Midrand, Gauteng, following multiple positive Covid-19 cases.
It claims there have been 10 positive Covid-19 cases at the warehouse, across a number of departments. According to the union’s Gauteng organiser, Desmond Jeza, the retailer is still using a biometric access system at the property, which the union believes is not sufficiently sanitised. He also asserted that the company had not carried out an adequate screening and tracing process to identify employees who had come into contact with the positive cases. Nupsaw plans to picket at the warehouse on Monday to demand that all workers should be tested before the warehouse reopens, and that those who test positive be allowed to self-isolate at home with full pay. Meanwhile, Dis-Chem confirmed that eight of the 1,950 employees at its Midrand centre tested positive for Covid-19 last week, but "strongly” refuted the union's allegations regarding the health and safety of its workers. "Dis-Chem believes the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) is on a publicity drive to enlist members after a failed strike last year which saw their union membership dwindle to under 10 percent," read a statement issued on Sunday.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain and Jeanette Chabalala at News24
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