Confusion is mounting over who would be responsible for the inoculation of the 3.1 million temporary workers in India’s formal sector - staffing firms that supply this workforce or the clients for whom they work, reports the Economic Times (paywall). Indian staffing firms Quess Corp, TeamLease and ABC Consultants said they can help create awareness about vaccination, but it is the responsibility of the clients to provide jabs to the temporary employees along with their own permanent staff.

But some companies that employ them say there are practical and financial feasibility issues in vaccinating the on-contract workers. ."Staffing firms do not make enough margins to bear the cost of vaccinating the large number of third-party employees," said Shiv Agrawal, managing director of ABC Consultants. While companies are holding discussions on vaccinating their permanent staff and are collating data, a decision on temporary workforce is awaited, he said. The temporary employees are on the payrolls of the staffing companies.

The staffing firms say vaccination needs to come under the benefits provided by the client to those who are working for them. "It is essentially a benefit and protection of employees which in turn benefits the principal organisation," said Rituparna Chakraborty, cofounder of TeamLease Services.