1,208 employers and 66 employees identified during a survey to be exempted or seeking exemption from COVID-19 vaccination – Bala

Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Parveen Bala says that 1,208 employers and 66 employees were identified during their survey to be exempted or seeking exemption from COVID-19 vaccination through the Ministry of Health.

While responding to a question by FijiFirst MP, Alexander O’Connor who had asked Bala to inform Parliament on the actions currently taken by the Ministry in implementing the Health and Safety at Work (General Workplace Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 in workplaces throughout the country, Bala says they have done 5,188 COVID audits to the targeted 16,226 workplaces registered under the Ministry.

Bala says they are not forcing people to be vaccinated.

When questioned by SODELPA MP, Lynda Tabuya on how do they reconcile with the fact that being jabbed does not prevent a person from contracting COVID and spreading it, Bala says unvaccinated workers and employers must not enter the workplace on or after the 1st of August unless they have received at least the first dose of the vaccine.

He says unvaccinated workers and employers must not enter the workplace on or after the 1st of November, unless they have received at least the second dose of the vaccine.

Bala adds that an OHS Inspector may order a business temporarily closed if an employer has not received at least the first dose of the vaccine on or before the 15th of August.