Standard Bank makes U-turn on vaccination policy
Standard Bank has dropped its mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy for workers “with immediate effect”.
In an internal memo to workers, the company announced it would no longer require staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19, but warns it could change its position should the number of Covid-19 infections rise.
The bank required all staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by April 4 2022 or face dismissal.
Standard Bank says 95% of its employees are already vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Based on the current context of the pandemic, we believe that our vaccination policy is no longer required. Consequentially, it is no longer compulsory for employees to be vaccinated, or to produce a negative PCR or Rapid Antigen test if they are unvaccinated, in order to enter our premises,” said Standard Bank South Africa Chief Executive, Lungisa Fuzile.
"Should circumstances with respect to the pandemic change, the bank may, in future, adjust and review its policy and protocols in order to maintain a safe working environment."
This follows pressure from finance union SASBO, which vowed to challenge the lender’s dismissal of at least 40 of its members for not complying with the policy.
SASBO general-secretary Joe Kokela says they warned the bank not to implement a mandatory vaccination policy before an official declaration from government.
"We have warned them at some stage that they can’t implement the policies while the government has not made an official declaration on what to happen exactly as far as the mandatory vaccine is concerned.
“We want them to re-employ the 40 employees unconditionally. If we do not a get a response by Friday will be forced to lodge with the court.”
SASBO, which has some 70 000 members in the financial sector, says it will turn to the courts if the commercial bank fails to reinstate the axed employees within the next five days.
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