TTC has dropped the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for employees, paving the way for the reinstatement of hundreds of workers who were terminated.

In a press release issued on Thursday morning, TTC said it would officially lift the requirement as of November 27. It also said that employees who were terminated as a result of this policy "will be offered an opportunity for reinstatement."

TTC had previously terminated 354 employees for failing to comply with the mandate last January.

The statement also said: "TTC ​​still encourages all its employees to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines as this is the best protection against severe illness."

The TTC's decision to revoke the employee vaccination mandate comes about a week after the City of Toronto confirmed it would abandon the mandate that was in effect for its employees.

Also, CTV News Toronto reported in June that TTC faced nearly $3 million in wrongful dismissal lawsuits filed by former employees alongside the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

In the same context, TTC defended its initial decision in its statement on Thursday, saying it ensured "keeping illnesses to a minimum and allowing TTC to continue providing its essential services throughout the pandemic." It did not mention the reason for lifting the mandate now.