The Gujarat government has made it mandatory for people engaged in business activities to vaccinate their employees for COVID-19 by June 30, failing which their establishments will be closed.
Owners and employees working in commercial complexes, gyms, shops, libraries, restaurants, public transport services, cinemas and malls in 18 major cities of the state will have to get their first COVID vaccine dose by June 30. The deadline for the rest of the state has been fixed as July 10. The extent of punishment for non-compliance is still under consideration, government officials informed.
In its June 25 notification, the Gujarat government asked businesses and service providers who have direct public engagement to obtain vaccine doses to contain the spread of COVID-19 and a possible third wave.
While shop and hotel owners have objected to the shorter deadline, several vaccine centers in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and parts of Saurashtra ran out of vaccines by Saturday afternoon. “The government has not been able to ensure adequate stock at the vaccination centres, but they force us to get vaccinated. From where will we get the vaccine by the June 30 deadline?” A fast-food joint owner in Ahmedabad’s Vastrapur area said.
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Trade bodies have raised concerns about the short time frame, while welcoming the mandatory vaccination to prevent the spread of the infection. Gujarat Traders Federation President Jayendra Tanna said, “Vaccination is a good cause and scientifically proven vaccines should be no doubt. But we oppose strict deadlines of the government. In case of big cities it is just five days. How can you ensure compliance at such a short notice?”
The decision was taken in a meeting of the core committee chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday. The trade bodies are likely to represent the state for relaxation of time limits for shortage of vaccines at all centres.
Narendra Somani, chairman of the hospitality committee of trade body Gujarat Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), expressed the need to extend the deadline and expected the government to relax the deadline for big cities.
Somani said that about 60 percent of the hospitality staff have been vaccinated. “Recently this industry is starting to get back on its feet. And now with this directive, it will be difficult to vaccinate all the employees in such a short span of time.” He said the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Gujarat (HRAG) would demand an extension of the time limit.
The Gujarat Home Department in its notification dated June 25 said that non-compliance under the Gujarat Epidemic Diseases COVID-19 Regulation, 2020, constituted under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, would be punishable; Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and Disaster Management Act.
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