Compliance at restaurants worries Cosatu
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has expressed concern over the levels of compliance in some sectors as the country prepares to ease its lockdown restrictions further.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday that restaurants, cinemas, casinos and the personal care industry will be allowed to reopen.
Cosatu’s Sizwe Pamla says it is difficult to understand why restaurants are allowed to welcome back sit-in diners when the country is facing a surge in Covid-19 infections.
He says while restaurant industry needs to survive, the decisions should not compromise the objectives of the lockdown.
"When we look at the poor compliance by some of the sectors this does worry us. We are really not sure if the government have the capacity to monitor compliance at all restaurants, but we understand that most don't make money out of takeaways only and we do sympathise with them.”
Pamla says Cosatu fully supports the reopening of more industries under level 3 of the Covid-19 lockdown.
"We do welcome the lifting of restrictions on other sectors but we feel like the government have to do more to ensure that health inspectors can be able to access compliance in different facilities. We are deeply worried that the public transport system doesn't have coherence plan on how to deal with Covid-19 and we are hoping it will be sorted out even within municipalities.”
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"There are businesses at have not earned any income or revenue and individuals that have not had any income for over 80 days.