No Jab, No Job, a New Reality for Workforce
Employers are getting serious with the slogan Safety First. More and more of them have adopted the policy that workers who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 will not return to their jobs.
The tough measure has been imposed to help the national campaign to stop the spread of the killer virus.
The anti-vaccination group is making noises that forcing workers to get the jab is a violation of an individual’s human rights.
When the greater public good and safety is at stake here, there should be no dispute in deciding which is the right decision - a decision that is moral, realistic, practical and makes sense.
The interests and welfare of the masses must be paramount.
We cannot allow the reckless attitude and behaviour of a small group to undermine the safety and welfare of the majority.
Some argue it’s an issue of human rights and we should respect the choices of individuals.
That’s true in normal times during the pre-COVID-19 period. But we live in abnormal times- in a new normal.
We all agree that we are at war with an invisible enemy, a killer virus. And as such we are in an emergency state, where drastic measures take precedence over human rights to protect lives and properties.
Those who are exercising their rights by choosing to ignore protocols, restrictions, curfews and refuse vaccinations are putting their lives and others’ lives at risk.
We need to do the right thing and an increasing number of employers who genuinely want to see their businesses survive this crisis have taken this road.
Some employers, however, have decided to take the middle ground.
They have not ordered their employees to take the jab although they have strongly encouraged their workers to get vaccinated. But they have left it to the workers to make that choice.
That’s not good enough because the rest of their workforce is still exposed to the risks of infection.
Those who are opposed to vaccination do so because of unfounded fears over the side effects.
The fears are based on bizarre religious beliefs, lies and conspiracy theories even after leaders of the mainstream faith groups got their jabs and encouraged their congregations to get vaccinated.
As the number of positive cases rises the country needs stronger measures like the employers have introduced.
This is the new reality for our workers - no jabs, no job.