Swedish radio program Ekot aired a story today about Electrolux operations in Mexico, alleging unsafe working conditions and actions against employees. See below for facts about this matter.
Which safety measures have been implemented at the factory in Juarez, Mexico?
Immediately when it became clear in mid-March that Electrolux facilities in Juarez might be affected by the spread of the coronavirus, the company started implementing strict safety protocols, many of which were best practices and learnings from our Asian and European factories. These include:
- Adding Plexiglass barriers between workstations to protect employees
- Physical distancing measures in all areas of the facilities
- Doubled number of buses to and from the facilities
- Professional fogging, disinfection and sanitizing of all areas
- Increased janitorial cleaning and disinfecting
- Hand sanitizer available throughout the facilities
- Mandatory use of surgical masks and face shields where necessary
- And most recently, health screenings with daily employee temperature checks
What is the scope of Electrolux operations in Juarez?
Electrolux campus in Juarez consists of several plants manufacturing refrigerator-freezers, washers and dryers. It employs approximately 4,800 people.
Why was the factory kept open if employees were concerned it wasn’t safe?
We have applied the same principle in Mexico as elsewhere globally, keeping the health and safety of our employees as our top priority and acting in line with local rules and regulations. We believe appliance manufacturing is an essential part of society, especially with many consumers in isolation. In Juarez, this meant keeping the facilities operational until authorities ordered a general lockdown from April 21. While we fully respect and understand the concern of some employees about going to work amidst an evolving health emergency, it would not be feasible to make operational decisions based on this. We believe that the measures implemented in Mexico and throughout all of our factories globally are creating a safe working environment.
Is it true that Electrolux employees in Mexico have passed away because of Covid-19? How many are infected?
Yes, sadly we know of two colleagues who have passed because of this virus and we want to provide as much support as possible to their families. Out of the approximately 4,800 employees in Juarez, we have 16 confirmed cases of infection (as of May 5). But it is impossible to know – and we should not speculate – if they contracted the disease in the workplace. Mexico like many other countries is suffering from a rapid spread of the coronavirus throughout its communities.
I’ve seen a report saying some employees were fired. Is this true?
A number of employees were concerned about remaining at work because of the pandemic, and a small number chose to not go to their workstations. Instead, they congregated in the cafeteria, creating an unsafe situation not practicing social distancing. Unfortunately, attempts at dialogue were unsuccessful and eventually Electrolux resolved the situation by offering employees a severance payment.
What happens now? When will the Juarez factory be reopened and how will you convince employees it’s safe to return?
The Juarez facilities remain closed following the general lockdown from April 21 and will not open until local authorities decide otherwise. We believe most employees recognize the many safety measures implemented and look forward to a cautious resumption of operations. We are committed to continuing the dialogue with our colleagues and taking additional measures.