Victoria records 22 Covid-19 deaths and 20,180 new instances; NSW records 36 deaths and 29,830 new instances; fears Tonga disaster death toll will rise; Djokovic lands in Belgrade after being deported from Australia. Comply with all of the day’s information
- Distress signal detected in low-lying Tongan islands after volcano eruption, as first death reported
- Djokovic’s French Open title defence in doubt after Covid pass ruling
- GP clinics overwhelmed by rising Covid cases
- Rapid antigen tests: Australian consumers miss out as government and big business snap up supplies
- Download the free Guardian app; get our morning email briefing
Now McManus talked about companies making an attempt to require Covid-19 optimistic employees to work. The best-profile instance of this in latest days needs to be the Teys Australia abattoir in South Australia which was given state authorities approval to function whereas some workers have been Covid optimistic.
The ACTU mentioned the exemption from the SA authorities was apparently distinctive in Australia and set a dangerous precedent given the risks of affecting other staff, however McManus has simply confirmed that the employees of the plant have simply secured a victory on this case.
Simply with breaking information, that’s been resolved and people employees don’t should go to work whereas they’re Covid optimistic. That is about being very clear with employers that that is unacceptable.
Sadly, the ACTU has been receiving numerous pleas for assist from employees, primarily in smaller organisations like hospitality and retail, the place they’re informal employees and their employers have been saying “we all know you’re optimistic, however come to work, you’re not infectious”.
We’re writing to all employers and we began that final evening. We have to put in place upgraded security protections for 2022. What reduce it final 12 months for Delta gained’t work now.
That entails issues like higher masks, it entails RATs after they’re out there. That needs to be executed underneath the regulation and in session with employees. Employees have a proper to stop work in the event that they’re not in a protected office.
