Mining giant with major Yorkshire operation to introduce mandatory vaccinations

Mining business Anglo American wants to introduce mandatory Covid vaccinations across the company and may sack workers who refuse the jab.

The company says it is now consulting with its staff about the policy.

Anglo American employs about 1,300 workers at the Woodsmith fertiliser mine project in North Yorkshire, which it acquired when it bought Sirius Minerals last year.

The Daily Telegraph, highlighting an internal Anglo American document, reported that workers who refuse to be vaccinated could be fired “as a last resort”.

A spokesman for Anglo American has today told the BBC: “Anglo American is intending to introduce a policy that requires Covid-19 vaccination for access to all its sites and offices, with the continued objective of protecting our employees, their families, and communities as much as we can.”

The company said over the past 18 months, it had encouraged workers to be vaccinated and had set up vaccination facilities at some sites.

“Requiring vaccination for access is the next step, given that vaccination is the best defence available,” the company said.

However, it also conceded that implementing a mandatory Covid vaccination policy may vary in different countries.

In November, Health Secretary Sajid Javid ruled out mandatory Covid vaccinations for everyone in the UK, saying it was something the Government “won’t ever look at”.

However, he said that it would be compulsory for frontline NHS staff in England to be fully vaccinated against Covid.