Charles Molele
An estimated 1.5 million workers in agriculture, manufacturing and retail sectors will return to work on May 01 as the country begins to move to the 4th Level stage of the national lockdown, Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Saturday.
The trade and industry minister was presenting details contained in the government’s COVID-19 Risk Adjustment Strategy, which is currently out for public comment and consultation.
“In agriculture, forestry and fishing, that whole sector will begin to reopen, and that will include forestry as well as horticulture and the transport of livestock and animal auctions,” Patel said during a joint briefing with COGAT Minister Dr Nkosazan Dlamini-Zuma.
“In manufacturing, there will a further partial opening of the sectors. The sectors will not be open 100% during level four because we need to give firms an opportunity for phased return to work. As a broad baseline 20% of all manufacturing workers will begin to restart.”
Patel said manufacture of winter clothing, bedding and heaters, and all inputs required will be permitted, commencing at 25% and scaling up to 50% employment.
He said all employers and businesses need to take into account the necessary social distancing guidelines as per the National Department of Health, adding that workplaces and premises must have care and maintenance that is essential to the prevention of the destruction or significant impairment of working areas, plant, machinery or inventory, or to permit orderly shutdown arrangements, on such conditions as may be issued by means of directions by the relevant cabinet members.
“All COVID-19 health and safety protocols must be followed at all times, including observance of guidelines for social distancing, sanitation and hygiene, and use of appropriate personal protective equipment, like cloth face masks, as determined by the National Department of Health People may travel to perform and acquire services only where such services cannot be provided from the safety of one’s home,” said Patel.
Patel said a balancing act between getting business up and running and containing the spread of the coronavirus is vital at this stage of the lockdown.
“The return to work of increasing numbers of sectors will bring greater levels of workplace testing; in large companies, it will now be possible to test workers and so we will get more reliable, more comprehensive information to feed into our national system.”
He said all stores must ensure that there is temperature screening of patrons, hand sanitizers available and measures to facilitate social distancing.
“Where the number of customers cannot be accommodated at once then measures such a ticket system and defined limit of time in the store per customer should be implemented instead of the physical queuing of customers,” said Patel.
In addition, restaurants will only be permitted to sell take-away while bars and canteen services will be not permitted to operate.
South Africa has recorded 4,361 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 86 deaths with more than 152,390 people tested so far for the virus.
Ramaphosa on Tuesday announced a historic R500 billion stimulus package, equivalent to 10% of the country’s GDP, aimed at cushioning the blow from the new coronavirus on businesses in distress and more than 15 million vulnerable South Africans.
A curfew will be imposed between 8pm and 5am, unless for essential service workers returning from or going to work.