London: Anglo American, parent company of De Beers, plans to sack workers who refuse the Covid vaccine, according to a report in Daily Telegraph newspaper.

The requirement will apply to “all employees, contractors and any visitors to Anglo sites as well as all new joiners,” the paper says, citing documents it has seen.

London-based Anglo will reportedly introduce the policy early next to its 95,000 employees and contractors globally.

The company’s head of health is quoted as saying: “Requiring vaccination for access is the next step, given that vaccination is the best defence available.”

Those who refuse to disclose their vaccination status will reportedly be considered unvaccinated and will, as a last resort, be fired. Exemptions may be made on medical grounds.

The company is understood to have rolled out a vaccine mandate at some sites in Canada.

The Telegraph quotes Dr Elton Dorkin, head of health at Anglo, as saying: “We have been strongly encouraging our employees to be vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. This has included setting up our own vaccination facilities, where permitted. Requiring vaccination for access is the next step, given that vaccination is the best defence available.”

The company said, “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.

“We expect there may be differences in exactly how and when the policy will be implemented across the Group due to local contexts and legal requirements.”