New Zealand employers urge for mandatory vaccine passports

The country’s largest business association added that digital exemptions and extra precautions should be applied to those who cannot or choose not to be vaccinated.

EMA chief executive Brett O’Riley said that carrying the passport will give employers and employees the certainty and the safety they want in their workplaces, and will incentivise those hesitant about getting vaccinated to do so. The proposal is currently being considered by the New Zealand government.

“The majority of New Zealanders are getting vaccinated, and we know some employers were already using a no jab, no entry policy to protect their workplaces prior to this latest outbreak,” said O’Riley, adding that “Under health and safety legislation employers have to provide a safe and healthy workplace for their workers, and carrying vaccine passports is one way to do this.”

Those unvaccinated may have to take some responsibility for the circumstances or decisions they face while the extra precautions would help employers manage a potential mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated staff, he said, according to Xinhua.

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While the vaccine rollout has picked up pace since the start of the outbreak in August, a significant number of people continue to say they are not likely to get the vaccine due to misinformation about vaccination and the lack of confidence in the vaccine.