Numsa calls on employers to give Covid-19 jab to workers, families
The National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (Numsa) has called on government to speed up the vaccination of workers and their families.
Numsa says the inoculations should be done in partnership with the private sector.
The call by Numsa comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa placed the country under level 4 of the lockdown from Monday morning amid a worrying surge in Covid-19 infections,.
The epicentre of the country’s third wave is the economic hub of Gauteng.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says the union has launched a campaign for wider mass vaccinations for workers.
“We are calling on the ANC government, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, to allow employers across sectors of the economy to buy vaccines and vaccinate workers in the workplace, and over and above our demand is that the government must make available vaccines for free to the poor and unemployed.
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“We are also calling on the government to partner with the private sector where we demand that employers must vaccinate workers and that the government, in partnership with those employers, must vaccinate the families of those workers.”
Government has come under fire from unions and opposition political parties for the slow pace of the vaccine drive.
To date, close to 3 million people have been vaccinated which include frontline workers, teachers and the elderly.
