Employers, unions devising policy regarding COVID-19 vaccination for workers

 

Discussions are now underway to formulate a strategy that will be presented to the Government on the way forward regarding mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 in the workplace.

 

The meetings involve the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF) and the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU).

 

JEF President David Wan says his organisation is "promoting the use of vaccines" but is not in favour of mandatory vaccination at this time. 

 

"What we're hoping to do is to meet with the government to try to come up with a policy that is acceptable to all - the Government, the trade unions and the private sector."

 

"Our position that we're hoping other people will sign on to...is that we would like those who are unvaccinated to continue wearing their masks and follow the infection protocols at work, as well to be tested periodically to show that they don't have the virus," he suggested Tuesday while speaking on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.

 

Mr. Wan said mandatory vaccination could lead to social unrest and significant unemployment. He added that, with the absence of a national workplace vaccine policy, companies will have to decide on what is best for them.

 

According to Mr. Wan, the aim is to push through a policy as quickly as possible to help in reducing cases of COVID-19.

 

 

 

Vincent Morrison, President of the Union of Clerical, Administrative and Supervisory Employees (UCASE), believes discussions on a vaccination workplace policy is moving at a slow place.

 

Mr. Morrison said, in the interim, employees are being terminated or their contracts not renewed.

 

He has claimed that the contracts of least 20 employees were not renewed based on the COVID-19 protocols of their employers. 

 

"In fact, there is one worker in that group who went to do the test conducted by the Ministry of Health. That worker was given a letter to take to his employer, and when that was done, he was terminated for coming back on the premises. Apparently he was tested positive," Mr. Morrison alleged, adding that "this is grave injustice and the matter can be dealt with and handled better." 

 

However, Mr. Wan said he has no evidence to suggest that a member of the JEF acted unfairly toward a worker during the pandemic.

 

He argued that Mr. Morrison was "confusing two issues" — the fact that some employers abuse the use short term contracts "for many, many periods" and that "there are other issues surrounding a non-renewal of a contract" including whether the company has to downsize because of the impact of the pandemic. 

 

 

 

Opposition Spokesperson on Labour Senator Dr. Floyd Morris has suggested a national dialogue with the public on vaccination requirements for employees.

 

Senator Morris said there is need for consensus on how to treat the matter.

 

He added that it is imperative the government re-table the Occupation, Health, and Safety Bill in Parliament. 

 

He argued that if the legislation was properly formulated and debated, the country would be in a better place to deal with vaccination requirements for employees.