Business SA says Covid-19 vaccine should be mandatory for hospitality workers

There are calls for more workers in sectors such as hospitality to be made to get the Covid vaccination. It comes as public hospital staff who fail to get at least one jab will be banned from today.

More industry sectors should be required by the state government to have workers fully vaccinated, Business SA says.

The measure was needed to protect staff who engaged with the public or were in worksites where social distancing was not possible, Business SA chief executive Martin Haese said.

“We recognise that not everyone will support a broader, sector-specific vaccine mandate but with more than 80 per cent of South Australians already having had their first dose, those in opposition are definitely in the minority,” said Mr Haese.

“The government should consider higher density workplaces, including hospitality, factory and some retail settings where employees are either working within close proximity to each other or their customers.”

Hospitality workers such as bartenders should be fully vaccinated, Business SA says.

Business SA welcomed the government plan to open the borders to fully vaccinated travellers from November 23.

Mr Haese said SA “has held it together so well during these challenging times due to maintaining a connection between the employer and employee”.

There had been labour shortages and cost increases for materials but business owners had been resolute.

However, without a broader industry vaccination mandate to give employers clarity, there would be risks SA could lose its advantage of being a leading state in managing the virus.

From today, hundreds of public hospital staff will be banned from work because they have failed to get at least one vaccination against Covid-19.

The decision to not receive a first dose before the November 1 deadline is likely to increase pressure on South Australia’s besieged health system.

New legal directions have come into force that compel most SA Health staff to have at least one coronavirus vaccination.

This comes as authorities review mandatory laws after chiropractors and osteopaths were not forced to get a jab.

Meanwhile, the modelling behind SA’s roadmap out of Covid reveals how many people – including young children – will end up fighting for their lives. Read the three scenarios here.