Joint Chambers calls for workplace vaccination policy to be finalised

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The draft workplace COVID vaccination policy needs to be “finalised, circulated, and tabled for implementation” as a matter of urgency, the Joint Chambers said yesterday as it joined the call by the Trade Unions Federations to have this done.

The Joint Chambers comprises the American Chamber of Commerce TT (Amcham T&T), the Energy Chamber of T&T, the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the T&T Coalition of Service Industries, and the T&T Manufacturers Association made the call in a statement issued yesterday.

The Joint Chambers yesterday expressed its support, in principle, for the draft workplace COVID vaccination policies that had been developed by the Industrial Relations Advisory Committee, which were presented to the meeting by the Ministry of Labour.

“The draft workplace vaccination policy includes proposals for the introduction of additional regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Employers have a duty of care to their employees, customers, and other visitors under the OSH Act.

It is therefore imperative that employers are given clear guidance about any specific vaccination requirements that they could reasonably be expected to implement, in response to the specific level of risk that exists in their facilities,” the Joint Chambers stated.

The Joint Chambers yesterday described as “extremely encouraging news” the sharp increase in the number of people being vaccinated in response to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s announcement of the introduction of safe zones.

“In the stakeholder meeting chaired by the Minister of Planning yesterday, the Joint Chambers again expressed our strong support for the safe zone concept and committed to working closely with the Government and other stakeholders to successfully implement this plan.

“As acknowledged by all parties, there are still details of the implementation of the safe zone plans, and the associated employment issues, that need to be fully resolved,” the release stated.

The Joint Chambers says it is committed to working with all stakeholders to make this a reality.

“The Joint Chambers reiterates their strong and continued support for vaccinations as the only currently available method to get us out of the COVID pandemic without the continued lockdowns, that have been so damaging to the economy, society and mental health,” it stated.