On Tuesday, Amazon responded with a statement: «The health and safety of our employees is always our top priority. We have adhered to strict COVID-19 protocols since the pandemic began, including $15 billion in investments in safety and protection measures around the world, and we will continue to do so in the months and years ahead. This includes investing more than $1.2 billion in measures such as active screening, masks, gloves, improved cleaning, testing and more. During the Delta wave last year, the health authority ordered the closure of three Amazon facilities in Brampton after massive outbreaks. More than 600 Amazon employees were infected with the virus last year. Other Peel workplaces have also been closed due to these workplace outbreaks. Kaur said gig workers are also particularly at risk. «People who work in the gig economy, such as Uber drivers and delivery drivers, are not covered by the Employment Standards Act. They are putting their health at risk so that people who work from home can have things delivered to them during the lockdown. Peel Public Health responded to a question from The Globe and Mail: «Currently, Peel Public Health has limited capacity to support workplace outbreak investigations, unless they are located in high-risk environments, as defined in recent provincial case management guidelines, contacts and outbreaks. In Brampton and the rest of Peel Region, a new wave of COVID-19 infections has emerged, mainly caused by the Omicron variant.
As the region battles the Omicron variant, Peel Public Health said it does not have the resources to address workplace outbreaks. How COVID-19 exposed long-term health issues at Brampton Hospital Gagandeep Kaur remembers how things deteriorated for key Brampton workers during the Delta wave of COVID-19 last year. But at least Peel Public Health was on the lookout for workplace outbreaks. Kaur says the provincial government and Peel Public Health are needed now. She said that while Amazon has taken measures such as staggered shifts and physical spacing between workplaces, there`s no way to know if major employers are meeting their standards. «I highly doubt that employers are taking all necessary precautions without health authorities inspecting them. It was a big stick that kept them in line. When provincial restrictions announced by Ontario Premier Doug Ford went into effect last week, they had no impact on Garg`s work. Like thousands of other important workers in Brampton, he still has to leave home to work.
«We don`t have the ability to work from home,» Garg said. William Osler Health System, which operates Brampton Civic Hospital and Etobicoke General Hospital, reported 12 COVID-19 patients on Dec. 22. On January 5, he reported 105, with seven patients in intensive care units. Last Tuesday, Peel Region, including Brampton, reported a total of 1,435 new cases, the second in the province after Toronto. The MPP said the best way forward for the province is to establish permanent sick leave. «People shouldn`t have to choose between going to work sick or paying the bills.» In many cases, employers have had to organize test kits for their employees. Before Christmas, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the city would purchase test kits for all city employees. But sourcing kits and face masks has proven difficult for most businesses.
Nahar Aujla, the organizer of the Workers Action Centre in Peel, said protecting key workers was key to stopping the spread in the community. «Many of Brampton`s key workers live in multigenerational households. They go back and interact with their parents and grandparents. Paramjit Singh, who runs a safety and compliance consulting firm in Brampton and works primarily with the trucking industry, said there is very little regulation to catch misguided employers, although Peel Public Health has issued guidelines. Follow us on Twitter: @globeandmailOpens in a new window At an information session last June, Brown said the average age of the key worker in Brampton was 36. The two age groups that caused Peel infections were 20 to 29 years and 30 to 39 years. And yet, these age groups may struggle to get their booster doses in the coming weeks. «It`s truly devastating to hear the impact of COVID-19 on Brampton.
Peel is chronically underfunded across the board. We are not getting our fair share. The fact that Peel Public Health does not have the resources to study workplaces shows the lack of funding we receive from the Conservative government,» he said. In most work environments, employees need to be concerned about their own safety. Many companies do not offer basic products like KN95 masks. Companies that want to do their best have very little access to PPE [personal protective equipment] and test kits. Businesses will need the help of the province to make this happen, they can`t do it alone,» he said. How this Brampton community explains Canada`s COVID-19 crisis Like no other demographic activist worries about truckers, as the trucking industry is one of Brampton`s largest employers. Ravish Garg thoroughly disinfects his truck before and after his trips. On his regular route from Toronto to Chicago, he stops on the 825-kilometre route just to eat or go to the bathroom.
Gurratan Singh is the NDP MP for Brampton East. His riding includes the area code L6P, which had the highest per capita infection rate in Ontario until June 2021. He said this reflects how Peel Public Health is trying to do the best it can with limited resources. «We are following all Peel Public Health guidelines, including the provision of approved three-layer medical masks, and we have held numerous vaccination clinics for our employees and residents of the Region of Peel.» Singh, MPP, said, «The people of Brampton are doing their best to fight COVID-19. We are a city of significant workers who have no choice but to work from home.