A whistleblower has said a South Wigston biscuit factory is the location of a coronavirus outbreak.
The employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told local media that five members of one work team at the Pladis biscuit factory in Canal Street, South Wigston had tested positive for the disease.
According to reports some members of staff are now self-isolating and a spokesperson for the Company has said they will remain on full pay.
However the reports say the whistleblower has alleged the factory had remained open throughout the lockdown period and employees had “….no option but to risk going into work”.
The worker also pointed out that the factory employed lots of BAME workers “who are more at risk and many are from deprived areas”.
The worker claimed the company was putting its staff who are mainly women of ethnic backgrounds at risk with the employees ‘scared to take time off’.
In a statement to local online news organisation LeicestershireLive, the company said “We do not comment on individual cases. However we can confirm that we are being open and transparent with our colleagues if and when a colleague reports a confirmed case of Covid-19.
“We have been in regular contact with the local health protection team including today (Friday), and we are following all official guidelines.”
The company said it had undertaken social distancing measures including screening, barriers, staggering start times to prevent crowds of workers arriving at the same time and hand sanitising stations throughout the area.
It also mentioned other measures including face coverings and four pop-up canteens to maintain the social distancing. The site is closed at the weekends enabling a deep clean of the whole site and visitors with symptoms are instructed not to enter the site.
Pladis is an international company with some 300 years of baking and confectionery experience. It supplies some of world’s well known snacking brands, including McVitie’s, Ulker and GODIVA.