Some British companies are drawing up 'no jab, no job' contracts for their employees. AFP
Some British companies are drawing up 'no jab, no job' contracts for their employees. AFP
Some British companies are drawing up 'no jab, no job' contracts for their employees. AFP
Some British companies are drawing up 'no jab, no job' contracts for their employees. AFP

British companies consider ‘no jab, no job’ contracts for workers


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British businesses are considering “no jab, no job” contracts for employees after the government said that it could not stop employers from requiring workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Some law firms and care home companies have said that they won't hire unvaccinated staff once the UK's adult population has been offered inoculation, while London-based Pimlico Plumbers, one of the country's largest plumbing firms, last month announced a "no jab, no job" recruitment policy.

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Tuesday that it was “up to businesses” to decide whether they wanted workers or customers to be vaccinated. “It is obviously up to businesses what they do but I think at the moment we don't yet have the evidence of the effect of the vaccines on transmission,” he told the BBC.

Barchester Healthcare, which runs more than 200 care homes in the UK, said that it wouldn’t hire people who refuse the Covid-19 vaccine on non-medical grounds.

Law firms that wished to remain anonymous told the Financial Times that some companies were considering a requirement that existing employees be vaccinated.

The UK events industry is particularly keen on vaccine passports or rapid Covid testing to reignite the sector after nearly a year of closure.

“We will consider any route that gets our doors open safely again,” said Greg Parmley, chief executive of music sector trade body Live.

Ministers are reluctant to endorse domestic vaccine passports because such a scheme raises the prospect of discrimination against people who can’t receive a vaccine, and could undermine public confidence in the vaccination campaign.

The Confederation of British Industries said that there was no need to force workers to be vaccinated, and that businesses were “committed to doing everything they could to inform and engage their employees on the benefits of the vaccine”.

Meanwhile, Mr Zahawi said that the government was looking into creating a vaccine certificate to allow international travel to resume. “If other countries will require a vaccine certificate then I think it is right that we facilitate it,” he said.

In pictures - coronavirus in the UK 

  • Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a vial of AstraZeneca vaccine during a visit to a coronavirus vaccination centre in Orpington, South-East of London. Reuters
    Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a vial of AstraZeneca vaccine during a visit to a coronavirus vaccination centre in Orpington, South-East of London. Reuters
  • Boris Johnson speaks to people during the visit to the Health and Well-being Centre in Orpington. Reuters
    Boris Johnson speaks to people during the visit to the Health and Well-being Centre in Orpington. Reuters
  • Boris Johnson gives thumbs up with Silvester Biyibi during the visit. Reuters
    Boris Johnson gives thumbs up with Silvester Biyibi during the visit. Reuters
  • A person gets off a mobile vaccination centre in Thamesmead, London. Reuters
    A person gets off a mobile vaccination centre in Thamesmead, London. Reuters
  • Healthcare professionals prepare doses of the vaccine at Chester Racecourse. Boris Johnson called Britain hitting a target of inoculating 15 million of the most vulnerable people with a first coronavirus jab "a significant milestone". AFP
    Healthcare professionals prepare doses of the vaccine at Chester Racecourse. Boris Johnson called Britain hitting a target of inoculating 15 million of the most vulnerable people with a first coronavirus jab "a significant milestone". AFP
  • A vaccinator talks with a patient in a booth at the vaccination centre set up at Chester Racecourse. AFP
    A vaccinator talks with a patient in a booth at the vaccination centre set up at Chester Racecourse. AFP
  • A healthcare professional draws up a dose of AstraZeneca vaccine in a syringe at the vaccination centre at Chester Racecourse. AFP
    A healthcare professional draws up a dose of AstraZeneca vaccine in a syringe at the vaccination centre at Chester Racecourse. AFP
  • People queue to enter the NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre in Westfield Stratford City shopping centre in east London. AFP
    People queue to enter the NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre in Westfield Stratford City shopping centre in east London. AFP
A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Key Points
  • Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
  • Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
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Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

The specs: 2018 Maxus T60

Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm

Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km

Price: from Dh362,500

On sale: now

Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush

Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”

A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.

“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”

How it works

1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground

2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water

3) One application is said to last five years

4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare 

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If you go

The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting

-      Don’t do it more than once in three days

-      Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days

-      Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode

-      Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well

-      Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days

-      Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates

-      Manage your sleep

-      People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting

-      Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert