Australia's Qantas to make vaccines mandatory for staffQantas has thousands of employees furloughed due to coronavirus travel disruptionsSYDNEY - Australian airline Qantas said Wednesday it would make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for staff, as the company bids to get planes back into the skies. The national carrier is one of the first major Australian firms to mandate vaccines for employees, saying the rule would also apply to its budget offshoot Jetstar. Pilots, cabin crew and airport staff must be fully vaccinated by November 15, with other staff members given until March 31 next year. Qantas' new rule comes after Australia's conservative government said it would not make vaccines mandatory but would leave businesses to implement their own policies. Qantas previously said it would require international travellers to be vaccinated and has announced prize draws to entice Australians to get the jab.

Source: Bangkok Post August 18, 2021 01:52 UTC