EMPLOYERS ENCOURAGE STAFF TO BE IMMUNISED

▶ Unvaccinated employees in some sectors will have to take regular tests

Business owners in the UAE believe a move to introduce mandatory Covid-19 tests for some workers will prompt more companies to encourage their staff to be vaccinated.

From Sunday, employees working in hotels, restaurants, transport, laundries and hair and beauty salons who are not already immunised against Covid-19 will have to undergo PCR tests every two weeks.

In Abu Dhabi, such screening is free of charge for those working in vital sectors and service industries.

Employees who have received both doses of a vaccine are exempt from the requirement.

At Kensington Barbers in Dubai Marina, Tunisian owner Issam Lahmer said the announcement had spurred him to speed up the vaccination process for his staff.

“I have six employees including three barbers, a receptionist, a cleaner and a manicurist,” he said.

“With this new rule I will now have to pay for them to be tested every two weeks so, for me, it is better that I get them to go for a vaccination.

“So far, two of my staff have received the first dose of vaccine, so I will now look to book an appointment for the other four.”

Mr Lahmer took over the business six months ago and said trade had been hampered by the pandemic.

Though the new, fortnightly swab screenings would require owners in some emirates to pay for the tests, he said this would “encourage more people to be vaccinated so they don’t have to take time out of their day to be swabbed”.

Lourds Adalia-Evertse, who owns Spice Grill, a seafood restaurant in Sharjah, is in favour of inoculation and regular testing.

“We have 17 staff and we are fortunate because there are some health centres in Sharjah that offer the PCR test free,” she said.

“Because of that, all we have to do is arrange and pay for transport of our employees to and from the testing site.”

Ms Adalia-Evertse is keen for the public to continue to support the UAE’s inoculation drive to help society return to normality.

“The sooner people are vaccinated and are further protected from the virus, the sooner things can get back to business as usual,” she said.

With a small employee base, she said, the “majority of her staff” had already received their first dose of the vaccine.

Although the shot is voluntary, Ms Adalia-Evertse said she did encourage staff to book inoculations and all were willing to do so.

“We are lucky that testing is free in some places in Sharjah because to pay for tests for all staff, every two weeks, could be a financial burden for some businesses,” she said.

“Despite that, I think it is a necessary move to safeguard the population.

“For my staff who need to be tested, I have told them they can take some time out of the working day to have it done.”

At Katis restaurant, also in Sharjah, all nine staff have received their first dose of the vaccine.

“I think regular PCR testing is a good call but, thankfully, it won’t affect our staff too much as we have all had the first dose of the vaccine,” the restaurant’s manager said.

“Our second dose is in early April, so we will only need to go for a PCR test one time before being exempt from the new rule.

“For larger companies, it might be costly to do regular testing, so I think you will find more staff opting to have the vaccine instead.”

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said the testing rule was brought in to curb the spread of the virus and keep workplaces safe.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health urged people not yet immunised to book appointments immediately.

Additional slots for residents over the age of 16 were opened in all emirates.