DEMAND for essential worker permits allowing employees to travel to work under Victoria's Stage Four COVID-19 lockdown orders, has seen the State's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) crash this morning.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, noted the new permit system announced yesterday invalidated the Guild's pro-forma employee movement letter, which previously allowed pharmacy staff members to travel to and from work during the State's lockdown.
"The permits are issued by the employer themselves to their employee making a declaration that they are an essential worker for a permitted on-site activity for their work during Stage Four restrictions," he said.
"Community pharmacies are an essential service and pharmacy employees are permitted to perform work on site at a community pharmacy.
"There has been some confusion this morning as the Victorian DHHS website crashed with the high demand for accessing the site.
"The Guild urges our members to review the online information as soon as they can to issue permits to all of their staff who are working at the pharmacy during the Stage Four lockdown.
"Whilst the Guild did provide a pro-forma employee movement letter previously - with this further development and update on the Worker Permit Scheme we advise that all members fill out the worker permit document from the Victorian Government to replace what the Guild had provided beforehand.
"There are significant penalties that can be incurred by employees and businesses for knowingly [making] false declarations - so we advise our members to ensure they complete the permit forms carefully and to the best of their knowledge and understanding at the time of signing."
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