Cape Town – Africa’s largest mobile network operator, the MTN Group has announced that it will implement a mandatory vaccination policy for its staff from January 2022.
The group said in a statement on Monday that the move formed part of its efforts to protect the health and safety of staff.
“As part of our commitment to protect the health and safety of our people and workplaces, as well as contribute towards the rate of Covid-19 vaccinations across our markets, MTN Group will be implementing a mandatory vaccination policy for staff from January 2022.
“The science is clear. Vaccination against Covid-19 reduces rates of serious infections, hospitalisation, and death. As an employer, we have a responsibility to ensure that our workplaces are guided by the highest standards of health and safety, and that has informed our decision to make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for our staff,” said MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita.
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The group said the policy recognised the right of employees to apply to be exempted from the policy or refuse vaccination on certain “clearly defined grounds”.
“For those staff who are not exempt from vaccinations either through risk assessment or agreed exclusions but still refuse vaccination, MTN will not be obliged to continue the employment contract,” the statement said
The new mandatory vaccination policy followed the group’s US$25 million donation to the African Union’s Covid-19 vaccination programme.
MTN said the latest data showed that across the continent, only 7% of Africans “have been fully vaccinated. This compares with a global population vaccination rate of 55%.
“The fight against Covid-19 needs a global, comprehensive and equitable allocation of vaccines”.
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