SUPERMARKET workers don't feel safe due to the lack of social distancing and abuse from a minority of customers, says a Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd.

North Wales MS Llyr Gruffydd has expressed concern for the safety of supermarket workers after receiving messages about social distancing.

In addition to the safety of staff and customers, he said that the "worst-case scenario" would be supermarkets not being able to stay open because of rising infection rates or self-isolation among workers.

He said: "Supermarket workers have been key workers throughout the pandemic and are expressing concern about the failure to ensure that safety guidance is being adhered to. In this current lockdown, we're seeing looser rules operating in terms of allowing customers into supermarkets and fewer restrictions despite the worsening situation. It's worse now than during the first wave but some supermarket managers seem to have thrown out that safety-first approach.

"Supermarkets are among the few places where people mix indoors now so it's vital that they are as safe as they can be. Welsh Government has to insist on better social distancing and that's why I've written to the relevant Minister to ask for greater clarity.

"The worst-case scenario is that supermarkets themselves have to close or limit opening because staff are falling ill and having to self-isolate. Hopefully we can get through this but it's important that we keep all our keyworkers safe, whether they're working in hospitals, care homes or retail."

The Plaid Cymru MS said he had been contacted by workers at supermarkets in North Wales who are concerned for their safety.

He shared a letter from one staff member.

The letter reads: "I’m writing to you to express my concern about supermarkets in Wrexham. Myself being a supermarket worker, I won’t name the company through fear of losing my job for speaking out.

"We’re in a desperate situation as supermarket workers in the borough of Wrexham and many have shared concerns with me and other colleagues throughout our store. I’m not a manager or supervisor so my opinion to management really doesn’t count.

"The managers in our store simply don’t follow the guidance set by all devolved nations advice in the UK. We have capacity set limits by head office which are ignored by our management and they allow as many as they see fit in store. The irony of the situation over our tannoy system says ‘we’re doing all we can today to make sure your store is safe for both you and our colleagues’ I feel more unsafe working at the moment as we’ve all dropped the ball at this crucial moment during the pandemic.

"I’m not asking for an extraordinary response or false promises. I just someone to know and someone to listen that we supermarket workers don’t feel safe in our stores at all currently. Mask wearing is becoming less and less, abuse levels are being increased and many colleagues are self isolating constantly through break outs in stores."

Mr Gruffydd's comments come after Councillor Carrie Harper raised concerns about the same issue specifically at Wrexham supermarkets.

Leader readers took to social media to comment on the Leader's article, with many of them saying they felt restrictions were not being strictly enforced and they did not feel safe.

However, several praised the town's Marks and Spencer store for its measures.

On the Leader's Facebook, Joy McHugh said: "One of the main hotspots in any supermarket is the self scan. People crowd around these machines thinking no-one is watching them and they don't have to distance. It's a very worrying trend that's putting people in danger."

Vicki Jones said: "I'm not a nervous person but since the start of Covid I don't want people getting close while I'm shopping. In supermarkets no one cares, getting in my space and not following one way system. They need to start the traffic lights again."

Louise Leeming said: Supermarkets are bad but it's not their fault, it's the grown adults who should be following the rules. The amount of people that don't wear the mask properly and only covering their mouth is stupid, people can't follow one way systems."

Katie Marsh said: "Why in March did shops limit the amount of people in store at any one time? Now case numbers are higher but they don't limit numbers in any big shops."