In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which is currently
affecting the community at a global level, employers are faced with
unprecedented questions as to what to do regarding their employees
and the way forward, short term or long term.
The law is silent regarding changed employment conditions due to
a pandemic. However, an employer may wish to consider the following
points:
- Under the Occupational, Health and Safety Act, an employer
must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the safety,
health and welfare at work of all his employees. Necessary measures
must therefore be taken in special circumstances such as a pandemic
and when the authorities make regulations to state that the country
is in a lockdown, employers must comply with the same and cannot
request employees to attend work unless such services are essential
and the necessary authorisations are obtained from the authorities
to enable the employees to attend their place of work.
