Drastic decision by the government in Rome: From mid-October, Italians may only go to work vaccinated, recovered or tested negative. Those who refuse to present the “green passport” could even be suspended.
Italy will require vaccinations or negative corona tests from all employees in the country when they go about their work. From October 15th, all employees are obliged to prove this with the document called “green passport” in Italy. Otherwise there is a risk of sanctions.
“We are extending the obligation of the ‘green passport’ to the entire world of work, both in the public and in the private sector,” said Minister of Health Roberto Speranza at a press conference on Thursday evening. “We are doing this for two main reasons: to make these places safer and to strengthen our vaccination campaign,” said Speranza.
Penalties up to and including suspension threaten
In Italy, the “green passport” shows whether the holder has been vaccinated against Covid-19, whether he has tested negative in the past 48 hours or whether he has recently recovered from the lung disease. At present, the pass must be presented in the interior of restaurants, in cinemas or sports stadiums, on intercity trains, buses and on domestic flights.
There were protests in many places in Italy against the mandatory introduction of the passport. According to media reports, workers who do not present their passports face fines of between 400 and 1000 euros. If you are absent from work for more than five days because you cannot present the document, you must expect your wages and employment to be suspended. However, dismissals are not allowed. Anyone who falsifies the documents must expect criminal proceedings.
Hardly any adults who do not require a passport
The government’s decision affects “a total of 23 million workers, the entire human capital of the country,” said Administration Minister Renato Brunetta. Even the self-employed. According to official figures, 14 out of 18 million employees have downloaded the app with the “green pass”. De facto, among adults, only pensioners, unemployed people and housewives and housewives are not affected by the passport requirement.
Currently around 75 percent of Italians over the age of twelve are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The government hopes that the passport will give the vaccination campaign a further boost.
EU: Also compulsory in the world of work in Greece and Slovenia
In Italy, vaccinations have been compulsory for medical professions – just like in France. According to the national medical association, 728 doctors have since been suspended because they did not get vaccinated.
Italy is not alone with the mandatory health passport: In Greece, all unvaccinated workers have had to be tested once or twice a week at their own expense since September 13th. In Slovenia, the health passport became compulsory for all employees on Wednesday.
Italy was the first country in Europe to be affected by the corona pandemic; more than 130,000 people died there in connection with a coronavirus infection. Last year, Italy experienced its worst recession since World War II as a result of the pandemic.
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