Factory workers refuse COVID vaccine
Some factory workers are resisting inoculation of the COVID-19 Sinopharm from China that would have helped to complete vaccination in factories and likely to relax health rules should authorities agree to do so.
About 25-30 per cent of the employees at the factories in the zones are refusing to get vaccinated, said, Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association Secretary General Dhammika Fernando speaking with the Business Times on Thursday.
“There is a lot of hesitancy regarding the vaccine,” he said adding that some are totally afraid of its repercussions while others are concerned since it is a Chinese vaccine.
On the other hand employers are hoping that should the vaccination drive in the factories be carried out on a majority of the workers it would allow them to ease some of the health guidelines in the factories should the health authorities provide necessary approvals in this regard, Mr. Fernando said.
In this respect depending on the advice of the health authorities factory employers hope to obtain restrictions like maintaining a one metre distance to be relaxed once all workers are vaccinated.
He pointed out that no organisation has compelled workers to receive the vaccination and no employees will be subject to any penalties for refusing the vaccination.
At present about 30-35 per cent of the workers in all zone have been vaccinated with their first shots, it was noted.
FTZ and General Services Trade Union Secretary General Anton Marcus said that they had learnt through workers that some employers are insisting workers should get their vaccinations otherwise the company would not take the responsibility of treating them should they test positive for COVID-19 by giving them holiday pay.
On the other hand once employees are vaccinated they hope to ensure that these workers will continue to work, he said.
This new concern is to be taken up by the trade unions and they are likely to submit a letter to the Labour Department in this respect.
In another incident workers last Saturday had arr ived at the Katunayaka zone as part of the vaccination drive but some had complained they had not been inoculated.