Mandatory Vaccination Directions for authorised retail workers

In Victorian Government Directions issued recently, retail workers are listed along with other groups of authorised Victorian workers that “will be required to show evidence of their vaccination to their employer by a certain date”.

Retail workers includes those people working in wholesale or distribution facilities. Transport, freight and logistics drivers are also included among the workers that need to show evidence of their vaccination status.

VIEW PDF: Directions from Acting Chief Health Officer in accordance with emergency powers arising from declared state of emergency COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions

From October 15, 2021, in order to work on-site at a work premises, authorised workers must be able to provide evidence to an employer that they have:

• received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, or
• have a booking to receive the first dose by October 22, 2021, or
• have a medical exemption evidenced by an authorised medical practitioner.

This means that from October 23, 2021 onwards, workers need to have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (unless they have a medical exemption) to attend work.

From November 26, 2021, workers will also be required to provide evidence to their employer that they have received their second dose (unless they have a medical exemption) to attend work.

A work premises is anywhere you are required to be for your work outside the home (for example, a real estate work premises would include a home inspection, not just head office).

In the retail context, these requirements apply to employees, contractors (engaged by the employer or a third party), volunteers and students on placement, currently authorised to work in a retail environment; warehouse, wholesale or distribution facilities; and freight and logistics drivers.

Find out more here.

Victorian COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions

The COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions commenced at 11:59pm on October 7, 2021 and end at 11:59pm on October 21, 2021.

The purpose of these directions is to impose obligations upon employers in relation to the vaccination of workers, in order to limit the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within the population of those workers.

You can find out more about the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions here.