Vulnerable staff to work from home

TEACHERS and school staff with comorbidities have scored a major concession after the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) granted them permission to work from home ahead of the reopening of schools on Monday.

The agreement, which was signed last Saturday by Basic Education Department director-general Matanzima Mweli, SA Democratic Teachers Union general-secretary Mugwena Maluleke and National Teachers Union president Allen Thompson, state that teachers with comorbidities will remain at home on full pay.

“Employees who have comorbidities and those who are over 60 years and above will remain home on full pay subject to all requirements being met,” reads the agreement.

Teachers and other school workers over 60 will only report for duty in agreement with the principal and after appropriate safety measures have been put in place.

The agreement lists various ailments such as cancer and chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS. Pregnant teachers and school staff are also listed as vulnerable.

“Should the employee have a condition not listed above, which in the opinion of the doctor renders this employee vulnerable a motivation from the treating doctor would be necessary,” reads the agreement.

The Public Servants Association has told its members that the agreement applies to workers in the sector facing the risk factors of contracting Covid-19 and face a higher chance of complications should they be infected.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga this week met MECS after the SA Human Rights Commission indicated that it would seek a High Court interdict of the reopening of schools in the Western Cape.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union demanded that the health and safety of its members be safeguarded as it was not convinced that the department had fulfilled even the basic minimum requirements for the reopening of schools.