THE National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Tuesday that while it continues to support the vaccination drive by government, it was opposed to mandatory vaccination of workers.
The decision follows the meeting of NUM’s Extended National Executive Committee (NEC) which took place at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Cape Town from 1 to 3 December 2021.
The move to vaccinate all workers is supported by government, business and several other unions.
“We will defend this right with all the means we have to ensure our members are not discriminated against because of their constitutional right to exercise their beliefs,” the union said in a statement.
“The NEC is deeply worried that some mining companies have been forcing workers to vaccinate for Covid-19 and enforcing proof of vaccination when entering their premises.”
The NEC said it was strongly opposed to the decision taken by Sibanye Stillwater to introduce a mandatory vaccine from February 2022.
From the start of February 2022, any person entering Sibanye workplaces in South Africa would require proof of vaccination or a valid test showing they are negative for Covid-19.
Given the costs of such tests, it is effectively a mandatory policy, said NUM.
“Further, non-vaccinated employees must submit negative PCR test results and the costs associated with such PCR tests will be for the employees’ own accounts. This NUM rejects with contempt.”
- Inside Politics
