Enterprise workers to return to work from Friday
Following the announcement by the Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi on Sunday, 4 March pinpointing the source of the nationwide listeria outbreak as the Enterprise Foods depot in the city, Tiger Brands issued a nationwide recall on their products and all production at the facility was stopped.
POLOKWANE – Customers were advised to return the products to Enterprise and several other stores for full refunds with Tiger Brands adding the health and safety as well as the rectifying of the situation is of cardinal importance to them.
On Monday the depot reopened to resume its routine cleaning of the factory.
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Tiger Brands Corporate Communications Director, Nevashnee Naicker, said: “We are busy with a deep clean at the facility as part of the requirements and although the recent outbreak of listeriosis does play a part, we continue with our routine cleaning regime as always. The factory is currently not producing any meat or food products. There is, however, workers here because the facility needs to be cleaned. We regard the responsibility and well-being of our employees very high and in light of the recent unfortunate unfolding of events, are glad we can still provide some with work.
“The rest of our staff are being compensated even though they are unable to work due to the closure and we will continue to act in their best interest until the situation is resolved and we can start further action”.
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The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) met with its members at the Enterprise plant in Polokwane on Tuesday, 6 March due to concerns not only about the link of the listeriosis infection in processed cold meat and refrigerated food products found at the Polokwane plant, but also about the hazard of leaked ammonia which the workers were complaining about.
The union confronted Enterprise Foods on 19 February on the effect of leaked ammonia which the workers were complaining about and which had affected more than 22 employees while they were at work on same date and who were admitted to hospital and treated as if they were under the influence of alcohol.
Nupsaw requested Health and Safety Reports and Risk Assessments on the Ammonia Chemical from Polokwane Enterprise Management but to date no reply has been received.
“Management instructed workers to take leave as from 6 March. however, should management force any members to take unpaid leave, Nupsaw will take legal action which may resort to industrial action,” said Success Mataitsane, Nupsaw Limpopo General Secretary.
“Nupsaw is the majority union at Enterprise Foods in Polokwane. It employs around 450 people of which around 400 are Nupsaw members,” said Ntata Sekgota, Deputy Provincial Secretary of Nupsaw Limpopo.
Nupsaw General Secretary, Success Mataitsane, reported today, 8 March that Nupsaw reached an agreement with Enterprise Management and that workers at the Polokwane Enterprise plant will not be put on leave any longer but will return to work. From tomorrow, 9 March all the workers will be utilised for cleaning activities at the plant.
Nupsaw is also negotiating with management to absorb the services of cleaners for better controlling and training. Currently, they are contracted from labour brokers who are always bringing in new cleaners without any experience.
