Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Michael Barnett says the Government needs to make vaccinations against Covid-19 mandatory for workers.
A recent survey indicated that 90 percent of the Chamber’s members endorsed mandatory workplace vaccination.
“We have had government make it clear that 90 per cent vaccination is the target for New Zealand,” says Barnett. “They have done that in the name of safety for all New Zealanders. Employers are in exactly the same environment – for them it is safety first, for their workplaces and safety for their consumers.”
The vaccinations should be mandatory across New Zealand, not just Auckland continued Barnett.
“I don’t think we should be looking at Auckland. It should be wider than that. I think that other than those essential workers at the border business could try and make it mandatory but we would face legal challenge and years of testing and cost.”
“What we need is for the government to remove all ambiguity or for the health order – that needs to be extended to give direction for employers. To me, that is the best way to go. Not just Auckland for the whole of NZ.”
“For me, this is about safety, and it is safety for workplaces and safety for the consumers and the government needs to remove the ambiguity and give clarity for employers and do it now. We can’t wait for months.”
He said the Government needed to start listening to a bit more to the business community.
“I know they have their advisers in Wellington. they are probably very smart but the environment in which business operates is probably the best adviser to them for how this might best be given clarity,” commented Mr Barnett.
