Confusion over inoculation of temporary workers

India Inc is taking steps to vaccinate its employees against Covid-19, but there is uncertainty over who would be responsible for the inoculation of the 3.1 million temporary workers — the staffing firms that supply this workforce or the clients for whom they work.Top staffing companies Quess Corp, TeamLease Services and ABC Consultants said they can help create awareness about vaccination, but it is the responsibility of the clients to provide jabs to the temporary employees along with their own permanent staff. But some companies that employ them say there are practical and financial feasibility issues in vaccinating the on-contract workers. Both sides are trying to find a work around, like sharing costs, said people who are aware of such initiatives.82302432"Staffing firms do not make enough margins to bear the cost of vaccinating the large number of third-party employees," said Shiv Agrawal, managing director of ABC Consultants which provides 50,000-60,000 temporary employees to about 500 client firms.While companies are holding discussions on vaccinating their permanent staff and are collating data, a decision on temporary workforce is awaited, he said.The temporary, or third-party, employees are on the payrolls of the staffing companies. They are employed mainly in IT, manufacturing, telecom, hospitality and now in the pharmaceutical sectors. Typically, they are employed at junior levels and often work for stipulated periods.From this Saturday, everyone aged 18 years and above will be eligible to get vaccinated against Covid-19. While this could lead to a rush to get the jabs amid a raging second wave of the pandemic, many companies are looking at procuring vaccines directly from the manufacturers or are tying-up with hospitals to get their employees vaccinated at the earliest. Many have also said they would absorb the cost of vaccination of their staff. But these programmes may not cover the temporary workforce.A senior executive in the telecom industry said while it is possible for companies which have factories and other large facilities to create logistics for the jabs, many small and medium enterprises that employ third-party workers will not be able to do so.The staffing firms say vaccination needs to come under the benefits provided by the client to those who are working for them."It is essentially a benefit and protection of employees which in turn benefits the principal organisation," said Rituparna Chakraborty, cofounder of TeamLease Services. SAnother senior executive in the staffing industry said if client firms do not get the jabs done and staffing firms cannot bear the cost, it could lead to many of these workers not getting vaccinated.There are discussions between this set of recruitment companies and their clients. Although these talks are in early stages, some are talking of splitting costs."Principal employers cannot abdicate their responsibility towards employee well-being if the method of employment is third party. It is a harsh reflection of their value system and is not policy related," said Ajit Isaac, executive chairman for Quess Corp.Quess Corp which has about 350,000 employees deployed with vendors under third-party contracts said largely companies are putting plans but there are isolated companies taking a narrow view of this. "If they do not, we will collaborate with them to ensure all Quess' associates get vaccinated," said Isaac.A senior official at another corporate house, which has businesses in many areas, said it depends on the ratio between the permanent and temp workforce."In some businesses where the work is completely dependent on temp staff like in the larger portion of factories, then one has to vaccinate them along with the permanent lot. However, in corporate houses, where the ratio is tilted more towards those on direct payrolls, then priority will be given to them first," he added.

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