Canada's 2nd Largest Airline WestJet Unpaid Suspension for Unvaccinated Employees... Termination if Noncompliant

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, has imposed a one-month unpaid suspension on 290 employees who refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

On the 1st (local time), WestJet issued a statement saying, "The WestJet Group will operate as an airline that has completed vaccination in compliance with the government policy mandating vaccination for air travelers."

The suspended employees account for 4% of the airline's total workforce of 7,300.

WestJet plans to terminate all employees who continue to refuse vaccination mandates.

Earlier, the Canadian government mandated COVID-19 vaccination for employees of airlines and rail companies, setting the compliance deadline as the 30th of last month.

The government also applied the same policy to passengers using air and rail transportation.

Morgan Bell, WestJet's spokesperson, stated, "All affiliated employees must complete COVID-19 vaccination," adding, "This is also a condition of employment for future new hires."

The company explained that vaccination exemptions were granted only to a 'minimal' number of employees.

According to the Canadian Public Service Union, 47 and 30 employees at the small low-cost carriers Air Transat and Sunwing, respectively, received similar measures at the end of last month.

Regarding Air Canada, Canada's largest airline, the Globe reported that while rehiring employees laid off during the COVID-19 period and hiring 1,800 new employees to fill gaps caused by suspensions or refusals to return, the number of replacements due to vaccine refusal was not identified.

Air Canada stated that as of last week, approximately 1,080 employees had not complied with the vaccination mandate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.