Photo Credit: PNG Loop
According to a poll conducted by the Business Council of PNG, businesses have spent close to a million kina on COVID-19 protective equipment and facilities to protect their employees and operations.
According to the findings of their COVID-19 vaccination for a business survey, 70 per cent of the cost was spent on face masks and sanitisers, 21 per cent on testing kits, and 11 per cent on building their own COVID-19 facilities and clinics, according to Business Council Executive Director Douveri Henao.
Businesses have spent more than K70, 000 on facemasks and hand sanitisers, and more than K136, 000 on testing kits and ventilators, according to Henao.
According to him, some companies have invested between K50, 000 and K9.5 million to put up an in-house clinic or medical centre for their staff.
Henao also pointed out that whereas only 19 enterprises had medical insurance coverage for their employees on COVID-19 in 2020, that number has now risen to 64 per cent.
“From the findings, sensitive value chains need to be COVID-19 free. The Business Council is not forcing anyone to be vaccinated as it is their right… and with the hesitancy, businesses have now been able to absorb that cost. Businesses are continuing to adjust to these changes and have made these big expenditures with the hope that the vaccinations will rebalance the cost,” he said.
Reference: Yafoi, Melisha. Post-Courier (2 September 2021). “Businesses Have Spent Close A K1m For COVID-19”.
