Since the nationwide lockdown was implemented and subsequently extended, South African Employers and Employees, save for those categorized as Essential Services, have been unable to attend at their workplaces to continue trading and rendering services.
In that regard, the Department of Employment and Labour has issued formal directives and regulations requiring the Employer to provide and maintain as far as is reasonably practicable a working environment that is safe and without risks to the health of its Employees and to take such steps as may be reasonably practicable to eliminate or mitigate the hazard or potential hazard of contracting Covid-19 or the spread of Covid-19.
What are the Employer’s obligations in terms of the supply of masks, sanitizers and personal protective equipment? In addition to sanitizer being for the cost of the Employer, masks will also be for the cost of the Employer. Specifically, every Employer must provide each of its Employees, free of charge, with a minimum of two cloth masks, which comply with the requirements set out in the Guidelines issued by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
arrange for the Employee to be transported, in a manner that does not place other Employees or members of the public at risk, either to be self-isolated or for a medical examination or testing;