Mining Weekly reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) and labour unions have urged all mining industry employees to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity to do so.

The labour unions, namely the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Solidarity and Uasa, have, alongside the MCSA, reaffirmed their support for SA’s national vaccination programme. The MCSA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) has also been working closely with Business for SA (B4SA) in supporting government’s vaccination roll-out plan and says it is committed to playing its part in getting as many “jabs in arms” as soon as possible, so that lives and livelihoods can be saved. After a detailed assessment process, 55 mining sites have applied to register as primary vaccination sites and a further 76 sites as secondary sites. These sites will cover around 433,000 employees. Five sites have, so far, received the requisite permits from the Department of Health, of which one site is currently operational in that it has vaccines and is vaccinating. Workplace vaccination will be undertaken in line with the national priorities, which means that currently only the over-60s (around 6,000 industry employees) and remaining healthcare workers are eligible. The MCSA has also collaborated with unions in running an intensive communications campaign among employees to get those over 60 registered and vaccinated, and to encourage all employees to assist their family and community members to get vaccinated.

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