SACTWU CONCLUDES COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT CAMPAIGN FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT

April 6, 2021

The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has concluded South Africa’s first ever COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Campaign Industry Framework Agreement.

It covers the domestic clothing industry.

This Framework Agreement was negotiated under the auspices of the National Bargaining Council for the Clothing Manufacturing Industry of South Africa. It was adopted by a Special Council meeting of the clothing bargaining council, held early this morning.

The Framework Agreement commits the employer- and trade union parties to the clothing bargain council to play a supportive role in the rollout campaign.

Specifically, the parties committed to work with all stakeholders, including National Government and the National Department of Health, to:

– encourage industry leadership and employees to take the vaccine;

– help debunk myths about the COVID-19 vaccine;

– to assist all shop stewards, human resource managers, wage clerks and other industry personnel are trained regarding the issues involved in the vaccine rollout campaign;

– develop a customised industry registration application for the vaccine rollout;

– ensure that there is no employment contract discrimination for current or future employees who take the vaccine or decline to do so;

– make available our industry healthcare clinics, as well as workplace clinics, to assist with the vaccine rollout;

– make appropriate practical arrangements to enable all employees who wish to take the vaccine, to enable them to do so;

– set an “industry immunity target” COVID-19 vaccine administration achievement rate of 80% of all employees in the industry;

– set up an information helpline for industry employees, about the vaccine and its related rollout processes;

– develop a customised workplace guideline plan in how to facilitate the vaccine rollout, and to make it available to all workplaces in the industry;

– co-operate with medical aids operating in our industry to enhance the rollout campaign;

– encourage and assist where we can in the development of a domestic COVID-19 vaccine;

– encourage a target of 80% of our industry panel doctors and industry and workplace healthcare personnel to register and be accredited as vaccinators;