NEW LOCKDOWN RULES FOR EMPLOYERS

South Africa's Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, has published revised regulations relating to the Disaster Management Act. The regulations focus specifically on the effect that vaccinations will have on both employers and employees.

One of the biggest focus points is the issue of employers supplying the vaccinations and the option to make it mandatory.

Business Tech reports that the regulations give an employer 21 days to make a decision on whether it intends to make vaccinations mandatory, taking into account the operational requirements of the workplace.

If an employer decides to make vaccinations mandatory, it has to identify its employees according to their risk of transmission as well as those who might have co-morbidities. Older employees will also have to be given preference.

While employers might decide to make vaccinations mandatory, employees might still refuse to take it, in which case, employees could be required to wear a medically certified face mask.

As part of the revised regulations, the Minister also made it clear that any employees who have opted to be vaccinated and suffer from side effects, should be granted sick leave without a doctor's note being necessary.

Employers will also be required to develop a plan outlining the protective measures in place for the phased return of workers, and the measures it plans to implement to ensure that workers are vaccinated, reports Business Tech.

Image credit: International Disability Alliance