Shelves are empty in supermarkets once again as staff shortages due to illness or isolation combine with ongoing supply chain difficulties.
Australia hit the grim milestone of more than 500,000 Covid cases since the pandemic began on Tuesday. Daily cases in the states and territories continue to rise, forcing tens of thousands into quarantine and even more close contacts into isolation.
Between a third and a half of Australia’s transport workers are absent every day, interrupting the supply to supermarkets, the Transport Workers Union said.
The major supermarkets are all experiencing shortages of products including fruit, vegetables and meat.
Union national secretary, Michael Kaine, said they had written to prime minister Scott Morrison in October asking for rapid tests for transport workers to “keep drivers on the road”.
Large transport operators have told the union that up to half the workforce is missing because of Covid infections and Covid-related isolation.
“(We) have a completely predictable scenario where drivers are delivering rapid tests to be sold on the shelves of supermarkets and pharmacies – but they, like most Australians, can’t access them themselves,” he said.
Woolworths apologised for the lack of some products as distribution centres – particularly in Sydney – suffered from Covid absenteeism.
A spokesperson said they were working to replenish stores “as quickly as possible” as case numbers increase.
“The pandemic has delivered many challenges over the past two years and will continue to do so as we move into this next phase,” the spokesperson said.
“We’re currently experiencing delays with some of our stock deliveries to stores due to Covid-related impacts on our supply chain operations.”
Coles also apologised and promised shelves would be restocked as soon as possible.
“We are … seeing an increased number of team members being required to isolate due to household exposure to Covid while they wait for test results,” a spokesperson said.
“We are continuing to monitor team member availability across our business.”
Coles also said supply issues included a lack of shipping pallets and transport capacity. A global timber shortage has contributed to a lack of pallets to move goods around.
The challenge has been compounded by Covid-related factory closures overseas, as well as increasing local freight costs and a looming shortage of urea, a critical component of diesel fuel.
“We have been working with our suppliers and other stakeholders to address a number of supply chain issues including availability of shipping pallets and transport capacity, to ensure we can continue to provide our customers with the food and drinks they need,” the Coles spokesperson said.
An Aldi spokesperson said Covid was putting additional pressure on its supply chain but that it was doing its best to minimise any disruption.
A spokesperson said the company had “stringent and optimised Covid-safe plans” including rapid antigen testing in place along with a range of other measures to keep teams separated.
Shoppers reported shortages of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, and other products including toilet paper. The issues facing those products are different from the shortage of rapid antigen tests, which stem from a lack of supply altogether.
