Fast food restaurant McDonald's says its workers in Victoria will be provided with face masks from Monday, in line with the latest government advice.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It comes after the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union reported an employee at a Bendigo restaurant was directed to remove their mask when they showed up for work on Thursday.
Union secretary Josh Cullinan told the Bendigo Advertiser the employee protested, but it was made clear they would be sent home if they did not take off the mask.
The worker was told to call McDonald's employee relations hotline, Mr Cullinan said, and when they did, they were instructed masks were not part of the uniform and only employees in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire were allowed to wear the piece of personal protective equipment.
He said the union had campaigned for workers to be permitted to wear masks for months.
"They're not the be all and end all, but they do provide some level of protection," Mr Cullinan said.
On Friday, Premier Daniel Andrews and chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton announced masks were recommended for all Victorian residents when maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres from others was difficult.
A McDonald's Australia spokesperson said it would provide masks to its workers, following Friday's announcement.
"Employees will be issued with three-ply surgical masks suitable for use in the kitchen and when handling food, in accordance with government standards," the spokesperson said.
"McDonald's has established health and safety procedures for the use of masks in our restaurants and appropriate training will be provided to all employees."
The spokesperson said the fast food chain had social distancing procedures in place within its restaurants.