Driver trainers to work remotely from home
Brian Joss – South Africa followed in the steps of many other countries by placing the country into a nationwide lockdown. MasterDrive supports the decision made by President Cyril Ramaphosa as necessary to act quickly and decisively to the rapidly rising number of infections.
The managing director of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, is assuring clients that despite the lockdown, the company is ready and prepared to assist you in meeting your training requirements. “While our trainers will not be able to provide training in-person, our eLearning programme will ensure that drivers of non-essential products and services will remain proactive by meeting their training requirements via the programme.
“Since the first COVID-19 case was diagnosed in South Africa, MasterDrive has been preparing policies and plans to assist in ensuring that workforces that cannot work remotely, can use their time constructively by completing the theory component of their training. Once South Africa has contained the virus, the in-vehicle assessments can be completed.”
With regard to administration needs, MasterDrive employees will work remotely. “Our team members will be available to assist with rescheduling bookings that occur during the lockdown period and assist with booking appointments once lockdown has been lifted. Our team is equipped and able to answer any other questions that you may have during this time.”
The role that MasterDrive plays in the safe and efficient operations of many businesses is an important one. “The company will not fail our valued clients during this time. We are more connected and flexible in our communications than ever before and this will become an invaluable means through which we can continue providing our service.
“MasterDrive is in full support of the Presidency’s measures and we will follow the recommendations put in place and even go beyond this to ensure South Africa prevents an even bigger crisis than we already face,” assures Herbert.
CAPTION: The Coronavirus: safety measures. Picture: Martin-Sanchez-Tzo: Unsplash, Motorpress
Nissan temporarily suspends operations in Africa, Middle East and India
In response to the continuing COVID-19 outbreak, Nissan has announced a temporary suspension to production in its Africa, Middle East and India region.
This action follows the advice and guidance of respective national governments, and is being taken to safeguard the wellbeing of staff, customers and communities.
Production at the Alliance plant in Chennai, India (Renault Nissan India Alliance Private, Ltd) was halted on Monday March 23rd until further notice.
A skeleton staff will continue to carry out essential maintenance and the situation monitored closely.
Production will also be suspended at Nissan’s Rosslyn plant in Pretoria, South Africa. The facility will cease operations from Thursday March 26th until further notice.
Nissan’s facility in Giza, Egypt, has also temporarily suspended production from Tuesday March 24 for an initial two week period as a preventative measure.
In addition, offices across the region are implementing home-working to protect staff as part of the wider effort to contain or limit the spread and impact of the virus.
Nissan will continue prioritizing the safety of its employees, partners and customers and adhering to all government protocols across the region.
Mercedes Benz takes extra precautions Due to the worsening situation of the COVID-19 pandemic
MercedesBenz South Africa Limited (MBSA) has decided to begin gradually reducing manufacturing operations with a view to suspend production at its East London manufacturing plant, as well as work in selected administrative departments, on 9 April 2020 for a period of five weeks. Connected to this is an assessment of global supply chains, which currently cannot be maintained to their full extent.
An extension of this measure will depend on further developments.
Stakeholders can be assured that measures are in place to detect, manage and contain any cases of SARS-COV-2 related to our manufacturing operations. In the interim, wherever operations need to be continued, Mercedes-Benz will take appropriate precautions to protect the health and safety of its employees and inhibit the contagion of SARS-COV-2, the diseases that causes COVID-19, amongst its employees. In order to do so, MBSA is adhering to the directives of the World Health Organization (WHO), National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Department of Health for recommendations and guidelines on how to combat COVID-19.
With this suspension, Mercedes-Benz is helping to protect its workforce, to interrupt chains of infection and to contain the spread of the pandemic. At the same time, this will help the company to prepare for a period of temporary lower demand and to protect its financial strength.
Management is constantly monitoring the situation and will take further measures as required. Full operations will be resumed when the situation improves and will be communicated accordingly.
