Hundreds of retail workers are calling for stores to close due to COVID-19 safety fears.

More than 860 JB HI FI employees have signed a petition, circulated by the Retail and Fast Food Workers’ Union (RAFFWU), calling for the electronics retailer to shut its doors but continue paying staff.

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The call has split retail unions as the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) says retailers should continue trading to keep people in work.

William Millward is considered an essential worker as a JB HI FI employee but he is worried it isn’t safe.

William Millward is considered an essential worker but he told 7NEWS he doesn’t feel safe. Credit: 7NEWS

“We’ve had customers come in who have basically said that they’re supposed to be in lockdown,” he told 7NEWS.

“People are browsing, people are touching everything and we’re supposed to be cleaning everything straight after they touch it.”

Union response

A Retail and Fast Food Workers Union spokesperson told 7NEWS that workers “want to see their stores shut, and they want to be put on paid leave while the stores are shut”.

More than 860 JB HI FI employees have signed a petition calling for the national retailer to shut its doors. Credit: 7NEWS

The petition calls for the chain to move operations online with casual workers to be paid a base rate wage, and all permanent staff to be paid their contracted hours throughout the closure.

But Gerard Swyer from the SDA says “so long as the work environment is safe and people continue to work then that is appropriate”.

‘Essential’

Some JB HI FI employees also argue the stores aren’t providing an essential service as many of the goods they sell can be bought online or even from supermarkets.

“We don’t need to be open to the public to do that and we don’t need everybody crammed into small spaces,” Millward said.

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More than 100,000 retail workers have been stood down since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, with many casual workers unable to access the federal government’ JobKeeper wage subsidy.

7NEWS.com.au has contacted JB HI FI for comment.