Crown Resorts to mandate vaccines for staff and customers

Crown Resorts will require employees and guests to be vaccinated.

Australia.- Steve McCann, Crown Resorts CEO, has said that the casino operator will require staff and guests to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

He said the deadline for the vaccination policy has not yet been determined but the company will give staff three hours of paid vacation and an additional day of sick leave to get vaccinated and that employees who have already been vaccinated can claim an AU$50 (US$35.75) gift voucher.

Customers may need to register their vaccination status via a QR code before they can enter Crown venues.

According to the West Australian, McCann said: “Anyone who works on or visits our site needs to be vaccinated.”

He added: “Obviously we’ve got to work through some of the challenges… and that’s part of the consultation process. It’s important to show some leadership. We are a very large employer and hospitality has been very hard hit. It’s usually one of the first in lockdown and the last to come out.”

McCann praised the WA government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has allowed Crown Perth to stay open while Sydney and Melbourne’s venues had to close.

Uncertainty over Crown Resorts ability to continue as going concern

KPMG, Crown Resorts’ auditor, has warned that multiple investigations and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic have created significant uncertainties over whether the Australian casino operator can continue to operate. 

Since the company faced money-laundering allegations in 2019, it has been involved in legal disputes and is currently facing two Royal Commissions. Crown has also said that the Australian Transaction Reporting and Analysis Centre (Austrac) is “very likely” to bring a civil lawsuit against its casinos in two cities, which could lead to hefty fines.

According to the Strait Times, the auditors’ report said Crown bonds were in danger of being reimbursed if its credit score falls beneath speculation grade. 

Auditors said: “The conditions disclosed… indicate a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.”