Shoprite has set aside R102 million as a token of ‘appreciation’ to its low-income workforce for braving the frontlines of till points and distribution depots in a war against an unseen enemy.
Shoprite awards low-income staff with R693 bonus
Africa’s largest retailer is one of many ‘essential’ service businesses that will be operating during the 21-day nationwide lockdown.
Grocery stores are very necessary in times like these. To ensure safety and continuity, Shoprite and other supermarkets will have to strike a great balance between sustaining demand and ensuring that stores are consistently disinfected.
Consequently, this responsibility falls in the hands of the shop floor staff and packers at distribution centres. The staff complement of about 147 000, spread across 15 African countries, will work long and strenuous hours, in direct exposure to the coronavirus.
To show appreciation and honour their bravery, Shoprite has rolled out a bonus payout totalling R102 million.
“A reward for their tireless efforts to stock shelves”
The giant retailer’s CEO Pieter Engelbrecht described the gesture as a “reward for their tireless efforts to stock our shelves with food and other essentials for our 29 million shoppers.”
“In addition to this announcement may I once again urge customers to shop responsibly. Current gaps on supermarket shelves will be filled as our warehouses remain well stocked and new stock is arriving regularly,” Engelbrecht said.
Shoprite revealed that the bonus payout will be rolled out on Thursday 2 April and will be accompanied by freehand sanitisers and ‘leave guidelines’.
South Africa’s health department has yet to issue updated infection figures for the last 24 hours. The last time they reported, the tally stood at 709.
However, the latest situation report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) places the infection count for Africa — in the last 24 hours — at 359 (takes the total to 1 664 infections and 29 deaths).
