Valley of Ceres
Workers say it’s because of this that so many of them have been exposed to Covid-19.
One worker, who did not want to give their name or that of the company they work for, said agricultural companies owe it to workers to support them during this time.
“Closing the factory and still paying the workers is the least that farmers can do for people who have worked for them for years. Even if it’s just R500 per worker. No one asked for this [pandemic], especially not workers,” said the worker.
One of the larger fruit processing companies in the area, the Rhodes Fruit Group (RFG), said it has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement last week, the company confirmed it was closed for up to four days for deep cleaning and decontamination its work environment after nine workers had tested positive over the past few weeks — with the department of labour ordering it to further decontaminate.
The company then announced it was embarking on a phased reopening of operations after meeting compliance guidelines. In a statement the chief executive, Bruce Henderson, said: “While the closure has been disruptive to our canning process and we have a national imperative to supply food products during the lockdown, we cannot and will not compromise the safety of our employees.”
In a later statement, Rhodes Fruit Group said it was prioritising the safety of workers with increased physical distancing measures, staggered shifts and the procurement of personal protective equipment.
It also announced a financial relief assistance fund for workers affected by Covid-19. Contributions to the fund come from Henderson taking a 50% pay cut while other executives will take a 30% pay cut over the next three months.
“The employee assistance fund will ensure that employees continue to be remunerated, regardless of whether they may be required to work reduced hours due to the lockdown. The fund is evidence of the commitment of RFG executives and nonexecutives to ensure that employees and their families are supported in this time of crisis,” the company said.
Rhodes Fruit Group said it would also assist seasonal workers with applications to the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Temporary Employer-employee Relief Scheme.
The Western Cape government said it is not only working hard to respond to the outbreak in the Witzenberg but also to improve living conditions to bring more comfort to vulnerable people. This week Premier Alan Winde announced 229 new houses have been built in Ceres. “Our government is continuing to work hard throughout this pandemic to continue to deliver on its mandate, and I am excited that these residents will soon move into their new homes. Improving the lives of vulnerable communities is our top priority and a critical part of the response to the pandemic,” said Winde.
The provincial government has also incorporated several interventions in the region, including the completion of a temporary testing and triage centre at the Ceres Hospital.
He added: “This is one of 18 such facilities across the province, which helps to relieve the pressure on hospitals’ emergency services, while also allowing space for residents to be triaged and tested separately from the other hospital services.
“The ability to test and immediately isolate positive cases is key in helping to flatten the curve and prevent new infections. The testing and triage centre bolsters the testing response in the region.”