Bogotá. 8 July, 2020.
Following the approval by the health authorities of the legal requirements for private companies to acquire and import the Covid-19 vaccine, the President of Asocolflores, Augusto Solano, announced that our members have purchased 48,000 doses.
Solano pointed out that the acquired doses will be available in over 30 towns of Cundinamarca, Antioquia, and Risaralda. This initiative adds up to the high numbers of flower workers who have already been vaccinated through the National Government´s immunization program, with the objective of inoculating most of the people who work in flower farms.
Apart from the high numbers of flower workers who have already been inoculated through the Government´s vaccination program, these additional 48,000 doses will guarantee prompt immunity against Covid-19 of most of our employees regardless of their age.
In Colombia, over 140,000 rural families live off the flower industry, receiving education, housing, and recreational benefits derived from their employment; therefore, this vaccination initiative is of the utmost importance for their communities. Only if the floriculture companies survive the pandemic will the income of their employees remain stable.
“We have always insisted that compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and joint responsibility are a challenge and obligation shared by Government, enterprises, and citizens. We cannot overlook the lessons learned from the difficult times we are living. As entrepreneurs, we have always assumed our responsibility with the country´s social capital, and we will continue doing so. We acknowledge this is an opportunity to demonstrate, once again, that high regard for decent work is one of the main engines of social and economic development around the world”, stressed Solano.
