Rylands Checkers Workers Fear Returning To Work After Staffer Contracts Covid-19

A group of supermarket employees gathered outside a Rylands store have accused the Checkers management of failing to efficiently deep clean the supermarket after a case of COVID-19 was confirmed among the staff there.

The protesting workers were led by the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) Faranaaz Gaffoor.

Gaffoor alleges that the store was not properly sanitised after the positive case and wants to know why.

“Not all the workers were screened and those workers that showed symptoms have been placed on self-quarantine. But it has come to our attention this morning that there are another seven to eight confirmed cases. We are sitting with letters from the department of health.”

The South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union is currently in talks with management.

The union has told workers to go back to work, but they are refusing.

One worker said that she was too scared to go inside.

“We are not sure if the store is clean or not. They say that she was only in the store for three hours so why must they close the store. We have families at home.”

Law enforcement and private security have just arrived on the scene and the store’s doors have been closed.

Checkers has declined to confirm whether staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 at a store in Rylands.

EWN