SPC Become First Aussie Company To Mandate Covid-19 Jab For Staff

Food manufacturer SPC has become the first Australian company to mandate COVID-19 vaccination of all employees.

The major Aussie food cannery based at Shepparton in northern Victoria will require all staff to be fully vaccinated by the end of November including contractors and casual staff. 

The National Briefing: First Aus company makes vaccine mandatory

SPC chair Hussein Rifai told News Breakfast they've been in consultation with employees and unions before making the announcement and workers will be given paid time off to get both doses as well as time to recover.

"We believe that the only way that we can get out and protect our employees and our customers, and the communities in which we work is to go to the vaccine"

- Hussein Rifai

A contentious topic, compulsory "jab for the job" are becoming more popular across the US with Microsoft, Google and Delta airlines requiring their staff to have the jab.

Closer to home, Safe Work Australia's recommendations at this stage is that in most cases it isn't "reasonably practicable" for employers to demand staff be vaccinated to work. 

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