CLYDE WEATHERHEAD

ON SATURDAY last, the Prime Minister announced 'additional measures' in the public sector (the public service, statutory bodies and entities where employees are on the Government's parole).

The objective of these measures, the PM suggested, are 'urgent policy measures to increase the rate of vaccination among the population.' 'That is an imperative. This is the Government's job,' the PM continued.

In his November 25 address of the nation, after detailing a series of measures including mandatory vaccination, forced leave or suspensions or even dismissals implemented in other countries in light of continuing increases in covid19 infections and deaths, the PM warned that similar measures may become necessary.

He told us that if these measures are implemented here, it would not mean that the Government was 'incompetent, arrogant, dictatorial or anti-democratic. It will simply mean that our situation demands it.'

These measures which will be implemented from mid-January will follow legislative changes to the Public Health Act (Ordinance) and the issuing of new public health regulations.

The measures described 'as palatable as possible' are:

1. Government will insist that government workplaces will 'require vaccinated workers.'

2. Things will be put in place to 'identify such status.'

3. Persons who are not prepared, or for other reasons (other than for medical reasons), to show their vaccination status will not be 'encouraged in the workplace, be on leave on your own and you will be furloughed and will not be paid.'

This, the PM insists, is not a mandatory vaccination policy but a matter of choice. 'We are not mandating anybody to get vaccinated. We are creating safe zones with conditions that are medically and scientifically determined,' the PM emphasised.

Further details of the policy

Responding to a reporter's question as to what exactly 'fully vaccinated' will mean for public employees, the PM called on the AG to give details.

The AG indicated that the 'roll-out' involves:

1. Amendment of the Public Health Act to identify certain infectious diseases requiring a vaccine in a schedule.

2. Regulations will set the terms and conditions, listing the categories of people who will be 'required if they want to work to present a vaccine or medical exemption certificate.'

The AG went on to point out that the difference between this and the 'classic safe zone' is that the 'patrons' who access the government workplace are at this point 'not going to be required to be vaccinated.'

'The law will contemplate the circumstances of being…absent without leave (not being vaccinated or having a medical exemption) and the consequences…running down to not being paid and other consequences,' the AG added.

Unilateral change of employment terms

The introduction of the requirement for public employees to be vaccinated or medically exempted to not be 'encouraged in the workplace,' deemed to be absent without leave and not be paid during such absence, are all conditio