SPC to make vaccines mandatory for employees

By Geoff Adams

Aug 5, 2021

The move by SPC to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all of its staff and contractors has sparked a storm of objections from anti-vaxxers.

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SPC announced Thursday morning that all of its staff were expected to be fully vaccinated by November 15, in a move expected to be the first in Australia.

The mandatory requirement is being extended to visitors to their factory sites as well.

One Nation candidate, Rikkie Tyrrell from Invergordon, said it looked like SPC was bullying its workers into the vaccinations. She questioned whether the company could legally require everyone to be vaccinated and wondered where the legal liability lay if someone became seriously ill from the vaccination.

Anti-vaccination campaigners from around Australia have been angered by the decision.

Gary Oraniuk from Geelong contacted the Shepparton News to complain that the move was unconstitutional.

Jodi Campbell said on the Shepparton News Facebook page she was “done” with SPC.

“l will not purchase anything SPC again l have always supported them as they are my home town company if your support a two-tiered society and the removal of your employees basic human right to choose, do not expect the consumer to support you. I hope you go broke like many of us will.”

Others on the social media site praised the company for taking the initiative.

Gayle Dodgshun said: “Great job SPC. Hope other companies follow.”

All SPC staff, including casual and permanent staff as well as contractors, must have at least the first dose of the vaccine scheduled by September 15 2021, with the first dose administered by the end of October, SPC chairman Hussein Rifal announced on Thursday.

Any visitors to an SPC site will also be required to be vaccinated.

Mr Rifai, said lockdowns are not a sustainable solution and the Australian economy needs to open up again.

"The Delta variant poses a significant threat to our people, our customers and the communities we serve.

"The only path forward for our country is through vaccination," Mr Rifal said.

“As a company, we believe it is the right thing to do and we must go further to minimise risk and to protect the people we care about from the Delta variant,” Mr Rifal said.

All staff will be aided and offered compensation via paid time off when required to receive their vaccinations as well as special paid leave of up to two days for any staff who may become unwell after vaccination.