COSATU warns companies to stick to health regulations if they want to re-open
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has caution businesses and places of work to ensure they adhere to the health and safety conditions if they want to gradually re-open their doors.
Cosatu reacted to the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday evening of the easing of the national lockdown regulations as from the first of May 2020.
The trade union's national spokesperson, Sizwe Pamla, says with the economy functioning at 20% capacity and only 15% of the workforce currently at work, the decision to gradually ease the lockdown regulations and decentralize the decision making is a welcome move.
"We need to balance both the health and also our socio-economic needs. The Covid-19 virus will not magically disappear, and it may take time to get an accessible and reliable vaccine. We do not have the financial muscle to afford a long term shut down of our economy, as a country," says Pamla.
However, Pamla is reminding companies of their obligations to ensure the health and safety of workers.
These include the provision of safe transport, as well as Person Protective Equipment (PPEs) and screening at the workplace.
"Any sector or workplace must have a signed health and safety agreement. Employers must be legally held to this by the department of employment and labour," he adds.
Pamla says the relief effort to assist businesses should be accompanied by the postponement of retrenchments.
"Employers must cease retrenching workers when there are available options to assist businesses. Instead, they must apply for the UIF Covid-19 relief fund to avoid retrenching workers or sending them on unpaid leave," said Pamla.
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