BHP Still Backs Worker Vaccine Mandate, Will Proceed With Reconsultation

By Rhiannon Hoyle

BHP Group Ltd. signaled that it remains committed to making Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for workers at an Australian coal mine, despite the country's industrial relations tribunal deciding that the company's move to do so wasn't reasonable because of how it was implemented.

The world's biggest miner by market value stood down with pay--meaning they still got paid but weren't allowed to work--some staff its Mt. Arthur mine in New South Wales after telling workers in October that they would need to have at least one dose of an approved Covid-19 vaccine by Nov. 10 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 31.

Australia's Fair Work Commission on Friday determined that BHP hadn't consulted employees adequately in advance.

"We welcome and are progressing in a timely manner the offer by the Fair Work Commission to work with us, and the other parties in this matter, to fulfill whatever further consultation is required," BHP said in an emailed statement on Wednesday.

The tribunal last week said that a revised direction could be made by Dec. 15 if a consultation with workers and BHP advances quickly.

Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 08, 2021 02:52 ET (07:52 GMT)

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