Mandatory Covid-19 vaccination: CCMA upholds another dismissal
Updated | By Anastasi Mokgobu
The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has ruled in favour of yet another company which dismissed an employee for refusing to take a Covid-19 vaccine.
A security guard, who worked for a private company contracted by Sasol, was suspended after refusing to get the jab.
It’s the CCMA’s second decision in favour of mandatory vaccinations in the workplace in less than a week.
The employee, Gideon Kok, argued that he had a constitutional right to protect his body and that he was a Christian.
He was offered an alternative to vaccination - a weekly negative test out of his own pocket - but he refused.
After taking the company to CCMA, the commissioner found that the company’s decision was fair and due processes were followed.
Legal expert Jacqui Reed believes the ruling was well within the CCMA’s remit.
“The argument in relation to vaccination in the workplace relates to the safety of other employees, healthy and safe working environment and also it relates to employers ensuring that their employees aren’t too sick to come to work, they are not hospitalised, they don’t die.
“And the main health issues surrounding the death of a colleague is something that employers had to deal with in July last year when we had the third wave and most people were not vaccinated yet. There were a large number of people who were dying and it was causing mental health issues in the workplace. So there are a lot of circumstances surrounding mandatory vaccination in the workplace,” says Reed.
ALSO READ
Show's Stories
-
You're never too old to get down and boogy
Age doesn't matter when your body wants to groove and get down...
The Workzone with Alex Jay an hour ago -
Couple openly share their expectations in their relationship
Honesty is the best policy...
The Workzone with Alex Jay an hour ago