The Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago welcomes the announcement from the Government that all public service workplaces will become safe zones and that all employees paid by the State will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This is a sensible and logical policy decision that we fully support.
Jointly with other major business associations, the Energy Chamber has called for a national policy framework that would give employers the freedom to implement mandatory workplace vaccination policies when their risk assessments show that this was necessary to protect employees’ health. Many members of the Energy Chamber have already gone through consultation processes and implemented workplace vaccination policies for both employees and contractors who enter their facilities. The Energy Chamber has provided advice to member companies on the processes that they need to follow to be able to mandate vaccinations for their workplaces. As noted by the Honourable Prime Minister, these workplace policies have helped boost the vaccination rates in the private-sector.
The new policy announced by the Prime Minister will strengthen the ability of our members to take the necessary measures needed to protect their employees, contractors and by extension their families and the communities in which they live. Protecting the health and safety of all workers in the energy industry remains a core value of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago.