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The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) is expected to picket at the Dishcem Midrand Warehouse on Monday afternoon.
The union says it is gravely concerned about the health and safety of workers at the warehouse after receiving 10-confirmed case of COVID-19.
The decision follows a meeting the union had with the Department of Labour and the South African Police Service (SAPS) Station Commander of the Midrand Police Station on Friday. At the meeting, the union says, there needed to be intervention and inspection at the entire warehouse with the intention to temporarily close the warehouse down.
The union claims in a statement that “almost all the departments have been affected, and DisChem is deliberately refusing to comply with COVID-19 safety standard regulations and measures since all closed and high-risk contact persons have not yet been identified and isolated for screening, retesting and possibly for subsequently self-quarantine, but instead is business as usual.”
NUPSAW says their demands will include, among others, testing of all workers before the warehouse reopens and regular tests to be conducted thereafter; all those that have tested positive to be isolated at home, on full pay; no victimisation of workers who refuse to work before tests have been conducted or when the warehouse do not meet the necessary standards of hygiene; cleaning and disinfection of all areas.
NUPSAW had a meeting with the Department of Labour and South African Police Services (SAPS) Station Commander of Midrand Police Station on Friday, to intervene and conduct a loco inspection at the entire warehouse with the intention to temporarily close it down.
In the video below, pharmacy accused of violating COVID-19 regulations:
Latest COVID-19 Statistics in South Africa:
#COVID19 Statistics in South Africa as at 12 June 2020. pic.twitter.com/g8A1cm2lQv
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) June 12, 2020
As of today, the cumulative number of confirmed #COVID19 cases is 61 927, the total number of deaths is 1354 and the recoveries to date are 35 008. pic.twitter.com/Iy0WWawGtQ
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) June 12, 2020
