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Sunday Independent reports that Covid-19 vaccines are not mandatory in SA and yet some employers have started firing or retrenching unvaccinated employees.
Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) director Cameron Morajane has confirmed that so far they have received 10 referrals. The CCMA has “redlined” or flagged these as matters of national importance. Last month, the Department of Employment and Labour ruled that companies that make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for their staff would have to compensate their workers should they suffer side effects, illness or death from the jab. And President Cyril Ramaphosa had declared in one of his “family meeting” statements that Covid-19 vaccines were not mandatory. But he clearly left the door open for individual companies and establishments to formulate their own policies. Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the union had received some complaints of workers being told by their employers that they must be vaccinated or face dismissal. “We are intervening in those instances, including helping the workers to register their cases with the CCMA. We are also engaging those employers to reverse the dismissals and to persuade the workers on why it’s important for them to vaccinate,” he indicated. Pamla added that Cosatu strongly supported the need for everyone to vaccinate as they have been proven internationally to be safe and highly effective in saving lives, but could not support dismissing workers. Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union general secretary Lerato Mthunzi also said they have been receiving complaints, enquiries and lodging of grievances from their members. National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the union strongly encouraged vaccination, and that they had not received complaints.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Manyane Manyane at Sunday Independent
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