Covid-19: Final regulations published

COVID-19

FINAL LOCKDOWN REGULATIONS

Dear employer

The final lockdown regulations have been published. It is of utmost importance for employers to read and understand this document in order to be compliant.

Please click here to view a list of the essential goods and services as per the regulations.

NEASA previously circulated a list of exempted categories of goods and services which are not subjected to the national lockdown regulations. However, we have received numerous queries from members for clarification as to whether their activities can be read into the definitions contained in the regulations.

The only activities that are exempted are those involved in the manufacture of goods and ancillary services listed in the regulations, or activities that are required to deliver an essential service as provided therein.

PLEASE NOTE: Should a part of a business perform activities or manufacture products deemed to be essential or critical, only those activities may continue. All other activities, which are not essential or critical, may not continue.

Failure to comply with these regulations is a criminal offence.

Employers who do perform an essential service must register the business at http://bizportal.gov.za/services.aspx and acquire a certificate. However, at time of publication hereof, this site was not functional. It is unclear how government intends to deal with this issue.

Letter to employees required to report for duty

As previously communicated, there is no need for any government department to sign or stamp a letter permitting critical employees in essential services to travel to work.

A letter from the employer, together with abovementioned certificate, will suffice. A template, which is to be copied onto the company’s letterhead, stamped and signed by the head of the institution, is attached hereto.

Employees who are required to work must carry this letter, a copy of the certificate, as well as an identification document at all times.

Transportation of essential staff

The transportation of essential staff is not prohibited provided that:

• such vehicle carries no more than 50% of the licenced capacity and all requirements in respect of hygiene conditions and limitation of exposure to persons with COVID-19, are adhered to; and
• where an employee rendering an essential service is unable to travel to and from his/her place of work, the employer must make the necessary arrangements provided that such vehicle carries no more than 50% of the licenced capacity and all requirements in respect of hygiene conditions and limitation of exposure to persons with COVID-19, are adhered to.

Essential services employers who experience difficulty in operating due to enforcement of lockdown regulations and who has not been able to comply with the permission requirements as a result of the dysfunctionality of the website, should inform NEASA of this at legalhotline@neasa.co.za, in order to address the issue.

We will keep members abreast of any further developments.

Regards