COVID-19 vaccination should be mandatory for workers in public sector: Dr Ralph Gonsalves

Prime Minister of St Vincent and Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that the COVID-19 vaccination should be mandatory for every worker in any sector, whether it is the public sector or the private sector. This can also mitigate the effect of the spread of coronavirus among the workers in their country. He said a law should be made in which if any employee or worker refuse to get a vaccine should be fired from the work immediately.

According to PM Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Legal Affairs that the employers also have the right to work at a safe place where there is the security of their life while doing the work. The government of St Vincent has ordered that all unvaccinated public sectors workers those who have not to get their first job or are not fully vaccinated should get a COVID-19 test in which they should get a negative report if they would not be having a negative report they would not be allowed to join the work.

The vaccine is not compulsory in St Vincent and the Grenadines. According to the government’s official policy on the testing and vaccination of public service employees, while vaccination is strongly advised, it is not compulsory for public sector workers.

To safeguard the health and safety of all workers in the public sector or at any work place in St Vincent and Grenadines. It has been made compulsory that the workers who have not got their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine those are approved by WHO. They would be tested once in every 2 weeks as the measure of the safety of the workers from COVID-19. These are the measure by which the medical authorities will determine the safety of the country and its workers.

The Public Service Union, St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union (SVGTU), and the Police Welfare Association (PWA), all opposed to this policy which they view as another indirect attempt to force mandatory vaccination and testing on workers.