“Our position has not changed,” stressed a spokesman for the Ministry of Labor on Thursday on the burgeoning discussion about the 3G rule in the workplace. This was triggered by statements by Vienna City Councilor for Health Peter Hacker (SPÖ), who, among other things, confirmed that the 3G rule would eventually stop if vaccination was mandatory. But now the Ministry of Labor has given the all-clear: Even after the introduction of compulsory vaccination, the 3G rule should remain in place.
In addition, this had already been communicated to the social partners before Christmas. In addition, “vaccinated” or “recovered” in the workplace is impossible to implement, as the social partners argue with the basis of existence.
“Only viable way”
“People would be forced to beg or steal in one fell swoop,” said a spokesman for the Chamber of Labour. For example, mandatory vaccination at the workplace would mean that unvaccinated people would no longer be able to work. The AK also speaks of the vaccination requirement as an administrative responsibility, which should also be sanctioned accordingly with fines. The Chamber of Commerce also sees 3G as the “only practicable way” to keep the economy running. The Austrian trade union federation also insists on 3G.
But not only the social partners are concerned about the mandatory vaccination that will apply from February 1st. “We have seen that there are employees from abroad who have often been vaccinated with vaccines that are not approved in the EU,” said Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger. Accordingly, one must find “practicable solutions” for the specific legislative proposal.
From March, the airline Austrian Airlines will apply a 2G regulation for cabin crew on all flights. The unvaccinated would no longer be assigned to work and would stay at home unpaid.
Source: Nachrichten
