𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝟓𝟎 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐭
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare today announced that by 31st October 2021, any employee of the national and provincial governments and SOEs that still chooses to not be vaccinated shall have a 50 percent cut in salaries and will not be allowed to go to their workplaces.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare delivering his speech during his nationwide address today
Speaking during his fortnightly nationwide address this afternoon, the Prime Minister said by 1st January 2022, any employee that still chooses not to be vaccinated against COVID-19, will no longer be employed by national, provincial governments and SOEs.
“The Cabinet has also directed the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the OSC to implement more comprehensive advocacy and awareness programs to address the stated reasons of why people are not taking their vaccination,” Mr Sogavare said.
He said Cabinet also directed the Ministry of Public Service to expedite the formalisation of the employment policies requiring ‘proof of vaccination’ as a condition of employment, and to liaise with the Commissioner of Labour to ensure alignment on employment policies relating to COVID-19 and other pandemics.
Cabinet has also directed the OSC and Ministry of Public Service to urgently conclude the analysis of critical gaps that may occur if unvaccinated people leave the service.
The Prime Minister urged all eligible people to get their COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves, their loved ones and the country. And as the country is looking at re-opening its borders, the government wants to achieve at least 90 percent vaccination rate of the target population.
“We cannot reopen our borders for free travel without quarantine restrictions until we have vaccinated at least 90 percent of our target population of 417, 327 people which is 375, 595 people.”
The Prime Minister said one of the government’s top objective in this hard times is to drive and keep the country’s economy afloat.
But to achieve this objective, the country must reopen its international borders to allow normal trading, business travel and tourism to recommence without restrictions.
by Jared Koli