• Business
  • Education
  • General
  • Social
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Jamaica Says…
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Factions
No Result
View All Result
  • Business
  • Education
  • General
  • Social
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Jamaica Says…
  • Business
  • Education
  • General
  • Social
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Jamaica Says…
No Result
View All Result
Factions
No Result
View All Result
Home

Support our Frontline Workers!

Themba Mkhize by Themba Mkhize
September 30, 2020
in General
0
Support our Frontline Workers!
0
SHARES
52
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Themba Mkhize

By Themba Mkhize

The scent of rubbing alcohol and sanitizer is everywhere, confirming the season of hyper-sanitation. For me, this is a good time to interrogate the on-the-job realities of those workers responsible for cleansing our public spaces.

READ ALSO

New Year?

Reflecting on the Year 2020 for Jamaica

Proper sanitation has become a more consequential, more visible force in our daily lives. As the risk of catching COVID-19 has increased, a front-end sanitation and mask-checking process has become a fixed part of the general client experience. This has helped businesses inspire confidence among potential clients that their business environment is a safe one, and that their businesses are operated responsibly.

Security guards, waiters and cashiers have become the frontline of the mask police force and sanitation army. With increased risks and responsibilities, these workers are now adding more value to their organizations. At the same time, janitorial staff governs the back-end of sanitization, and have seen their workloads near double in some instances.

In the same way, waste collection has become more risky. Garbage collectors have to interact with household refuse, in some cases household members, and in other cases a drastic increase in medical waste – all of which put them at great risk of infection.  

The roles these employees play has brought real value to many organizations. This ought to be reflected in the way they are treated.

While financial incentives may not be viable for many businesses, where it is possible I encourage profitable businesses to give bonuses to these frontline workers at the end of the year. At the lower end of the compensation pyramid, workers find themselves especially vulnerable to resource shocks. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI) found that over the past few months, 46% of households with children have lost income, while 44% have suffered food shortages.

These figures are dwarfed when it is considered that 84% of these households had either no access to or partial access to the list of recommended sanitation items, including hand sanitizer, gloves, disinfectant, masks etc. Of the 84% who do not have sufficient quantities of the recommended items, 68% cited that this was due to a lack of affordability. No doubt, these frontline workers are likely to be affected in a significant way by these realities.

Where financial incentives are not feasible, then at the least, these workers must be treated as dignified members of the organization, and be afforded training opportunities to better protect themselves and those they serve. Many organizations have been guilty of undervaluing and mistreating staff, especially at the lower levels.

Similarly, frontline workers are responsible for performing their duties diligently as that is the greatest contribution they can make to individual and collective health. I cannot say that this has been the case at every establishment I have visited, but I am pleased to say that in most cases I leave satisfied with the management of adherence to protocols.

There is still cause for concern, however. On a number of occasions I have observed garbage collectors, janitorial staff and restaurant staff operating without masks, even during close interpersonal interactions. As harmless as these small interactions feel, the potential costs are high. So high, perhaps, that 1.5 million of us may endure the yet unclear long term effects of a COVID-19 infection, while fifteen thousand may die before finding out.  

So while we applaud good work, encourage benevolent behaviour, criticize underwhelming performance and propose potential solutions, it is important that we also think of how we can do better, and make it easier for others to do better as well.

Specifically as it relates to garbage collectors, the NSWMA proposed the following:

  • Securing your household garbage by properly bagging, tying, and placing in a container (drum, mesh, receptacle or skip) for collection.
  • Double bagging garbage containing tissue, gloves, face masks and diapers.
  • Placing your storage receptacle at the front of the premises where it can be accessed without hindrance 24 hours per day.

I would go further to say that we should display a kind spirit in our interactions with frontline workers, even if we have to stay more than six feet away. Their work is tedious, and like everyone else, they are facing the pandemic with their bravest face. For those of us who can offer support, let us do so; for others of us, let us contribute what we can through displays of fairness and appreciation.

We want to hear from you! Send feedback to commentary@factionsja.com.

Tags: covid-19FrontlineJanitorsSanitizationSecurity guardsWaitors

Related Posts

New Year?
General

New Year?

January 3, 2021
38
Reflecting on the Year 2020 for Jamaica
General

Reflecting on the Year 2020 for Jamaica

December 27, 2020
87
St. Kitts and Nevis Inspiring the Region with Energy Transition Projects
General

St. Kitts and Nevis Inspiring the Region with Energy Transition Projects

December 20, 2020
29
Bad Roads Are Expensive

Bad Roads Are Expensive

November 18, 2020
27
Do We Really Understand Voter Apathy?

Do We Really Understand Voter Apathy?

November 11, 2020
25
Journalist Killings in Latin America and the Caribbean: Adjusting Perspectives

Journalist Killings in Latin America and the Caribbean: Adjusting Perspectives

November 5, 2020
51
Exploring Restorative Justice

Exploring Restorative Justice

October 28, 2020
98
Kudos to Prime Minister Mottley

Kudos to Prime Minister Mottley

October 21, 2020
81
Disaster Reduction and Management in Contemporary International Relations

Disaster Reduction and Management in Contemporary International Relations

October 16, 2020
53
Next Post
IPL: The Creme de la Creme

IPL: The Creme de la Creme

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

POPULAR POSTS

Twisted Logic… Politics Before Health?

Twisted Logic… Politics Before Health?

September 1, 2020
345
Renting in Kingston

Renting in Kingston

September 1, 2020
322
2020 General Election – Election With A Difference

2020 General Election – Election With A Difference

August 31, 2020
309
Real Leadership in COVID-19 Jamaica

Real Leadership in COVID-19 Jamaica

August 26, 2020
285
Outsourced or Homegrown? Jamaica’s Football Dilemma

Outsourced or Homegrown? Jamaica’s Football Dilemma

August 7, 2020
274

Factions

Factions is a Jamaican news commentary online platform in which ordinary Jamaicans can comment on and analyze current local news. Share your thoughts.

Follow us

Categories

Business         Education         Religion

General           Social                 Politics

Sports

Recent Posts

  • The Legacy of Luton Shelton Will Live On
  • What is the Correct Choice for Jamaica’s Young Athletes?
  • Haiti Needs Our Attention Too
  • ‘Champs’ 2021 Suffers First Setback
  • Business
  • Education
  • General
  • Social
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Jamaica Says…

© 2020 Factions JA.

No Result
View All Result
  • Business
  • Education
  • General
  • Social
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Jamaica Says…

© 2020 Factions JA.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Share your thoughts. Sign up to create a post.

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.