NEHAWU Mpumalanga Province Is Responding And Defending Workers Against COVID-19
Friday March 20, 2020
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) in Mpumalanga Province has taken a stand to defend and protect its members and the public at large against COVID-19.
As a result the union in Mpumalanga convened a meeting with the Director General of Mpumalanga Provincial Government on the 20th March 2020. NEHAWU was disturbed by the quietness of the provincial administration in regards to responding to the call made by State President, Cde Cyril Ramaphosa, to combat COVID-19. Furthermore, we also noted that departments and public institutions were disregarding the COVID-19 guidelines from Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and the Department of Employment & Labour (DEL).
Therefore, as part of the outcomes of the meeting with Director General, we have resolved on the following:
- The Director General shall convene stakeholders meeting on Tuesday (24/03/2020) to work on the COVID-19 Provincial Integrated Strategic Plan.
- The meeting further resolved that the technical aspects of Covid-19 can be assigned to the Department of Health, however, the Office of the Premier must remain the oversight authority in this case.
- Departments and government institutions are expected to present their plans to all stakeholders on Tuesday (24/03/2020).
- The DG should direct all contractors appointed in all government offices to comply with the regulations and directives of government by providing their employees with necessary kits to preventing the contracting COVID-19.
- The DG should ensure that public access is limited to all government buildings.
- Members of the public who are allowed access to government buildings will be subjected to scanning and all other precautionary measures to apply.
- The clinic at Government complex shall be capacitated in order to respond to the COVID-19 challenge.
- The provincial government shall communicate with workers regarding centres that are identified for isolation/quarantining.
- Departments shall provide workers with sanitizers, masks and gloves for all employees.
- The DG shall ensure that all cleaners in government offices are protected and offices without cleaners will have to be assisted as a matter of urgency.
- The DG shall also ensure that public transport operators are engaged in order to ensure compliance with precautionary measures.
It is our responsibility as NEHAWU to protect and defend all workers and the public against the scourge of COVID-19. That is why we expect the provincial government to respond to this matter.
We further call upon all shop stewards to ensure that all workplaces are activating occupational health and safety committees; it must be strengthen by branch chairperson, branch secretary and branch wellness coordinators. Every branch and workplace must report to the Region every day about the work done and identified challenges with regards to COVID-19.
All shop stewards and union activists are expected to familiarize themselves with COVID-19 Guidelines from Department Employment & Labour and Department of Public Service and Administration, including all the communiques of NEHAWU with regard to COVID-19.
Issued by NEHAWU Mpumalanga Provincial Secretariat
Cde Welcome Mnisi [Provincial Secretary] at 082 455 2897
Cde Dimakatso Matjee [Provincial Deputy Secretary] at 082 558 5977
visit: www.nehawu.org.za