Isolation rules for supermarket staff and workers in other key industries could be slashed in a bid ease supply shortages as Omicron rips the country.
Supermarket and food supply retailers urged federal, state and territory leaders to ease isolation requirements for workers in a meeting on Friday.
The proposal comes after supermarket shelves were left bare with the food industry giant blaming staff shortages prompted by Covid-19 close contact and isolation rules.
NSW supermarkets have been hit the hardest with fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry and dairy displays left empty.
The isolation period for food and grocery retail employees could be dramatically slashed from seven to five days for close contacts as part of a bold new plan (pictured, a Coles supermarket employee begins a shift in Melbourne)
Woolworths shelves have been left bare with the food industry giant blaming staff shortages prompted by Covid-19 close contact and isolation rules
Australian Food and Grocery Council chief executive Tanya Barden presented the workforce plan in a bid to resolve supply chain shortages, reports The Australian.
The proposed changes would reduce isolation periods from seven to five days and loosen the isolation requirements for close contacts.
Household contacts of a positive Covid-19 case would be allowed to continue working during isolation if they presented as asymptomatic and tested negative by a PCR or rapid antigen test.
Employees who test positive for Covid would also have their isolation period slashed from seven to five days.
Staff shortages have impacted supply chains leaving supermarket shelves striped bare (pictured)
Free rapid antigen test kits for food and grocery workers was also discussed.
'Food and grocery manufacturers are more concerned about the workforce impacts than at any point in the last two years,' Ms Barden said on Friday.
'We are trying to be measured. We need to keep health and safety mechanisms in place, but we need to get people back to work quicker and in a safe way.'
Food and grocery retailers are urging for a 'balanced' approach to the ongoing Omicron crisis (pictured, meat shelves are left bare due to supply chain shortages at a supermarket in Sydney)
Relaxed isolation rules could also extend to the Aged Care sector after Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly revealed the interim framework on Wednesday.
Under the new changes, workers at low risk of spreading the virus could continue working in aged care facilities to ease significant staff shortages.
Staff deemed close contacts of a positive case and considered high risk, could return to work without isolating if staff shortages cause a 'high impact' on services.
This comes as federal, state and territory governments face increasing pressure to
