ALCOHOL TESTS FOR WORKERS AT MATSAPHA BIG COMPANIES

MANZINI – In a rather unusual practice, employees from various companies in Matsapha undergo breathalyser tests before entering the premises and reporting to their workstation.

In one of the food manufacturing enterprises within the industrial hub, the employees said they were irked by the sudden interest in their sobriety when reporting for work.

Most of the employees revealed that such a practice by their employer was an intrusion of their privacy. “Things are getting tense at my workplace, kani uphetseni lo 2017- loosely translated - “I wonder what 2017 has in store for us?” an employee at the place said.

A manager at the company, who preferred to comment on condition of anonymity, said the largest legal, social and economic issue in the workplace was the use of drugs and alcohol.

He said due to the fact that they dealt with trucks, large vehicles and machinery on a daily basis, no one was expected to report to work while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The company is alleged to have started testing its employees on Monday, something which drove some of the staffers to vent on social media and expressed their shock.

“The reality of such a practice by employers is that drug and alcohol use can affect the employees’ health and productivity and may impact safety in the workplace. Most companies that deal with drugs engage in this practice and it is officiated (sic),” the manager added.

Another manager from another company where such a practice is conducted said he saw nothing wrong with it, especially because employees with alcohol problems often had higher absenteeism cases, theft cases within the workplace and were also less productive.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: