On August 1, any staff member of Mark One Apparel who has not taken a jab will have their employment terminated, the company announced yesterday.

His comments followed SunBiz queries over the remaining 15 per cent of staff members, or 52 workers, at his Valelevu factory, who were yet to take their first jab.

Over 80 per cent of staff members at Mark One Apparel have received their first jab.

“Four per cent have taken their second jab,” Mr Halabe said.

“So, 85 per cent in total with the balance of 15 per cent yet to confirm if they will take the jab by August 1.

“We estimate by the end of September we will have reached the 80 per cent second jab target.”

Mark One Apparel is operating with just under 50 per cent capacity because of logistics of transporting staff to and from work under strict COVID-19 protocols, Mr Halabe said.

Textile Clothing and Footwear Council
The Textile Clothing and Footwear Council of Fiji said August 1 was the date the Government had provided by which time all workers needed to be vaccinated.

The council comprises 50 members who export predominantly to New Zealand and Australia.

“We adopted it as the date for our staff’s family and household members to be vaccinated by, with the first jab,” council president, Mike Towler said.

Mr Towler’s manufacturing company, Performance Flotation Development, reported 100 per cent of its staff received the first jab, since June 11.

“We now have 25 per cent of our staff fully vaccinated with two jabs,” Mr Towler.

“By the end of August, 100 per cent of my staff will be fully vaccinated with two jabs,” he said.

Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation
The Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation said employees who have not received their first jab by August 1, would not be permitted on company premises.

“For every decision we make, there are positive and negative sanctions,” federation chief executive officer, Kameli Batiweti, said.

“They have a window period between August 1 to August 15 to receive their first jab, before they can resume work.

“The second window, from November 1, is for employees who have not taken their second jab.”

The regulations governing the overarching decision is also applicable to employees who are working from him, Mr Batiweti said.

“The objective is to encourage more vaccination,” he said.

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