Pack store workers at Two-a-Day in Grabouw are relieved about additional safety measures that were implemented at the factory in the past three weeks.
John Michels, community activist from the Grabouw Civic Organisation, expressed his concern about the safety of workers at several pack stores in the Grabouw and Elgin area during the Covid-19 lockdown.He confirmed on Sunday last week that he’d been in talks with Two-a-Day and another pack store.“Two-a-day has been exemplary in taking the necessary precautions to protect its workers,” he enthused. “Other pack stores however, are slower to come on board.”
“Since last week Two a Day have been implementing additional measures to those required by legislation and set out by regulation,” explained Dimitri Jacobs, Two-a-Day Group Director of Human Resources. “We want to make sure our employees feel safe while at work, but also to help government in its efforts to flatten the curve of the Covid-19 infection levels.” Some of the initiatives the group implemented include the following:
.Paying its employees on a Thursday instead of Friday (most businesses paying their employees on a Friday), to lessen the impact on shops in town and circumvent people from queueing and creating social distancing problems.
. Arranging with its commercial bank for two mobile ATMs on site, which means Two-a-Day employees do not have to stand in long lines at the local banks in town.
. Buying masks for all employees which can be re-used after cleaning, in line with the guidelines communicated with them.
. Procuring flu injections for all employees, for whom it will be free of charge.
. Significantly reducing employee capacity, in some cases to less than 50% of the Pack house capacity, in terms of the maximum staff compliment requirement. “This was a major decision for us as we needed to balance our operational requirements, the food security requirement of government and keeping our employees safe,” explained Jacobs. “We ultimately made the decision to reduce the headcount in our pack houses, because we fundamentally believe that by creating more physical distance between employees, we will significantly reduce any rapid potential spread of the virus. Even though our employees will now work less time, they will still receive a wage and, with the help of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, we will help them claim for the short time worked.”
Jacobs said the company would also donate a few tons of apples on a weekly basis during the lockdown period and work with the Theewaterskloof Municipality to try and alleviate some of the adverse effects of Covid-19 on the community. “We have implemented many more initiatives, but these are some of the stand-out ones that were positively received by our employees and the community. As a business that is heavily reliant on our employees, we are grateful to all of them who are helping us and the country get through this very difficult period.”
