Page 5 - IB August 2021

View From The West

JABS, JOBS AND NATIVE LEASES

By Dennis Rounds

Having once “dabbled” in professional pugilism, I can vouch
for what boxers the world over know too well – that an effec-
tive jab can be a powerful weapon.
It appears in Fiji our political prize-fighters are also fully
cognizant of how vaccination through “the jab” can be rolled
out from an arsenal of tactical tools to combat the war on
COVID-19.
“No jab, no job. That is what the science tells us is saf-
est and now that is the policy of Government and enforced
through law,” Prime Minister Bainimarama has told the nation.
“It does not matter if you are the CEO of a company, a sole
trader or a salaried employee, you must be vaccinated to con-
tinue working or else that business will risk being shut down,”
he declared.
The message for civil servants was more direct – no first jab
by August 1 will result in mandatory leave. No second jab by
November 2021 will result in job loss!!
The “hardline policy” has received mixed reactions.
The reality, however, is that the Bainimarama government
is frustrated with the continuing spread of COVID-19 (more
specifically, the Delta variant) in Fiji, the steep rise in related
deaths and more so, the apparent growing disregard of COVID
safety measures.
By 18 August 2021, a total 40,587 COVID cases were re-
corded in Fiji since March 2020. Alarmingly, 40,517 of those
cases were recorded between April 2021 and August 18. access to the funds if they have their first “jab” by August and
For the same period, Fiji recorded a total of 394 COVID-19 are fully vaccinated by 1st November. In short, “No jab, no
deaths; 392 of those recorded between April and 27 July this unemployment assistance”.
year. This does not include people who had COVID-19, but Furthermore, unemployed workers who still have funds in
whose deaths were attributed to other causes. their Fiji National Provident Fund accounts will not be eligible
The Bainimarama government is adamant that lockdowns for the unemployment payments.
are not part of its tactical arsenal in the war against COVID. One thing about jabs in boxing. You get one too many and
Instead, the Attorney General and Minister for Economy you could possibly live the rest of your life “punch drunk”.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told Parliament in his 2021-22 Budget With the possibility of additional COVID-19 “booster jabs”
Address that the government’s vision was to “inoculate 80% of after the mandatory two, I’m wondering if I’m beginning to
adult Fijians by the end of October”. suffer from “punch drunk syndrome” with the mounting ques-
In the blistering west I’m left wondering: “What about the tions I ask myself.
20% who may not get inoculated? If that percentage is com- One such question that boggles my ageing mind is: “Do we
prised mostly of workers, do they face the peril of job losses penalise children in destitute homes because their parents
even though ‘herd immunity’ has been achieved?” have not been vaccinated?”
The questions don’t stop there.
Sayed-Khaiyum has allocated F$200 million(US$96 million) editor@islandsbusiness.com
in the 2021-22 Budget for unemployment payments including
for COVID-19 related unemployment. Dennis Rounds is a former owner of Islands Business and a
However there is a caveat. Unemployed people will only get veteran journalist.

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