(CMR) As the Government prepares to reopen the country's borders safely, Cayman Islands supermarkets have come together to do what they say is their part to keep their staff and customers safe.
Effective August 9th, 2021, Foster’s Supermarket, Priced Right, Kirk Market, Hurley’s Marketplace, and Cost-U-Less Grand Cayman will require all job applicants to have verified proof of vaccination to be considered for employment. Additionally, work permit renewals will only be processed for vaccinated team members.
In a joint release issued on Friday, the supermarkets said the decision supports the Government’s re-opening plan introduced in June 2021, which aims to see 80% of the country’s population vaccinated by September 9, 2021.
The release said this joint COVID Staffing Policy would play a role in helping the Government achieve its vaccination goal to protect public health.
“As essential businesses, the local supermarkets employ a significant portion of the local workforce to ensure the country’s food supply chains are uninterrupted and secure. We must unite on the vaccination requirements across all stores to protect our dedicated staff and valued customers,” it continued.
The supermarkets stated that vaccination rates amongst their current staff have been excellent, as they have been facilitating staff vaccinations since February 2021.
The grocery stores are hoping their new policy gives everyone greater peace of mind. They are currently working with their respective leadership teams to amend internal policies and plans in alignment with the government’s re-opening timeline to include points such as mask requirements for team members, social distancing, and increased store sanitation.
“We encourage the community to come together and understand the importance of being vaccinated for the safety of loved ones and yourself. While vaccine hesitancy and misinformation are hurdles across the globe, it’s important to be informed before getting vaccinated. It’s even more important to source information from reputable, verified news sources, including the Cayman Islands Government website or social media pages, the World Health Organization website, the UK National Health Service (NHS) website, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website,” stated the release.
The major supermarkets said as the Government begins to re-introduce tourism and travel for the Cayman Islands, they will continue to monitor and follow all health and safety guidelines provided by the Health Services Authority.
“We will update our community as new information is received,” the release ended.
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