COVID-19: 24 workers subjected to private imprisonment in Quelimane – O País

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COVID-19: 24 workers subjected to private imprisonment in Quelimane – O País

2:51 CAT | 30 Apr 2020

Photo: O País

Twenty-four workers in a Chinese plastics company, Hongyu, are being prevented from leaving company premises in Quelimane out of fear that their Mozambican co-workers would contract coronavirus within their families and bring it into the factory.

Workers work their usual hours, but are then kept on the premises.

O País visited the factory in question.at around 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, after receiving a tip-off.

Standing outside the firm’s premises, it was hard to believe that the more-than 24 workers were inside, unable to leave for their homes after eight hours of work.

Machine operator Abel Lemos said that the decision was the employers, but that the workers agreed with it. That may have originally been the case, but many workers no longer agree with the measure.

While reporters were there, a woman called Belinha and carrying a baby visited the factory to deliver a meal, but without being able to see her husband. She was visibly distressed, and did not agree with the employer’s decision.

An hour later, the employer, having noticed our presence, had the machines turned off and put all the workers off the premises. Labour inspectors then appeared, to assess the situation.

The employer denies that the situation is as outlined above, but the labour inspectorate says the case will be investigated and resolved.

By Jorge Marcos

Source: O País