Despite Downing Street advising it would be “discriminatory” to order people to be vaccinated to keep their job, Swindon MP and UK Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has suggested that employers may be able to draw up contracts requiring new staff members to have coronavirus vaccines.
Appearing in ITV’s Peston yesterday, Mr Buckland said that it would be unlikely that employers could legally require staff to receive a jab under existing contracts, but suggested it could be tested in court.
“I think it would depend very much on the terms of employment and the particular contract.” he said.
“Generally speaking I’d be surprised if there were contracts of employment existing now that did make that approach lawful. I think frankly the issue would have to be tested.
“I can see that in particular work environments the desirability of having a vaccine is going to be higher than in others.”
When asked if he believed it was up to employers to test the legal system if they do not want to employ people who decline vaccines, Mr Buckland said: “I think that has to be the case because we’re dealing with existing terms of contracts of employment, thousands of existing contracts.”
