8 workers test positive for Covid-19 at Dis-Chem warehouse
Dis-Chem has denied allegations of unsafe working conditions at the company’s Midrand warehouse.
The company was responding to claims by the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) that 10 workers have tested positive for Covid-19 at the property.
READ: Union unhappy with health, safety at Dis-Chem warehouse
The union also claims that workers are expected to pay for their own testing and staged a picket outside the warehouse on Monday.
Dis-Chem's Caryn Eliasov-Barker has accused Nupsaw of being “on a publicity drive to enlist members after a failed strike last year".
"We want to emphasise that while workers are at work they are in as safe a place as possible. Unfortunately, the country is rife with Covid 19 which can be contracted anywhere.
She admits that eight workers at the warehouse have tested positive for Covid-19.
"Dis-Chem has strongly refuted allegations by National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) regarding the health and safety of its workers after eight employees out of 1950 at its Midrand distribution centre tested positive for Covid-19 this week."
"Fortunately, as the record shows, the infection rate at Dis-Chem is lower than the national average and we are doing everything possible to keep the infection rate down,” says Eliasov-Barker.