‘AMCU calls for testing of all employees at affiliated workplaces’ 25 May 2020

The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has again called on employers to test all employees for Covid-19 as the pandemic continues to spread across South Africa. AMCU notes that while it has consistently called for the testing of all workers, the official stance of government and employers has been to only test workers who fail the screening process.

…Although AMCU welcomes the opening of the economy, it says there remain serious concerns about the safety and welfare of workers as South Africa moves to Alert Level 3 of the national lockdown. AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa says many workers are facing economic hardship as a result of the national lockdown. “It is important that they are enabled to return to work so that they can look after their families and their loved ones.”

…However, the union contends that when the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) attempted to avoid the setting of minimum standards, AMCU took it to court, resulting in the DMRE being ordered to issue national minimum standards for the mining and energy sectors by May 18.