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The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] notes with grave concern the growing number of frontline workers who are getting infected and affected by the coronavirus.

This morning the Minister of Health, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, announced that a total of 511 health workers have tested positive for Covid-19 and 26 workers are currently hospitalised. A doctor and a nurse have lost their lives to the virus so far.

NEHAWU has been at the forefront of highlighting the lack of protection of its members and workers. Frontline workers have been recklessly exposed to the virus by employers who refuse to prioritise their safety by ensuring that there is sufficient Personal Protective Equipment [PPEs], training of workers on the donning and doffing of PPEs including the safe disposal of used PPEs, and the non-compliance to the Occupational Health and Safety [OHS] Act.

Recently, we have been witnessing sporadic protests by workers who have downed tools because of the lack of protection. Emergency Services workers at the Khayelitsha District Hospital have been on strike since Saturday because the employer refuses to provide sufficient PPEs. Some workers had to resort to using refuse bags as aprons because the employer refuses to give them proper aprons while on duty.

This has also been the case at the Dora Nginza Hospital in Port Elizabeth area and other healthcare institutions across the country where our members are complaining about the lack of PPEs. Where PPEs are available workers are complaining about the inferior quality of the PPEs including some workplaces where workers have complained about the sanitisers not being the required 70% alcohol concentration.

What we find abhorrent is the fact that this takes place under the watch of the Department of Employment and Labour which through its inspectors is supposed to ensure that healthcare institutions comply with the OHS Act. The OHS Act clearly states that the employer has an obligation to provide and maintain a workplace that is safe and without risk to the health of workers.

The national union has been calling for inspectors to enforce and monitor compliance by frequenting workplaces. Moreover, we called for those who don’t comply to be exposed in public and punished accordingly. However, this has not been the case, hence workers are getting infected on a daily basis.

NEHAWU once again advices its members and workers not to work when they feel that their lives are in danger. Workers are going to work to sell their labour power not their lives. In this regard, we call on the National Department of Health to punish harshly those who gamble with the lives of frontline workers. Furthermore, we are still waiting for the outcomes of the investigation reports into the reckless infection of workers at St Augustine, Kingsway and Morningside Mediclinic.

The national union sends its deepest condolences to families, colleagues and friends of the two workers who got infected by this virus and lost their lives.

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat