In the future, anyone who wants to work will have to present a negative test, vaccination or health certificate. What still sounds like a dream of the future in Germany is already a reality in other European countries.
Vaccinated, tested or recovered – German citizens are particularly familiar with this triad from the customer and consumer point of view. Proof is required in bars, restaurants or fitness studios, among other places. So why not in the workplace too? In September there was an attempt to introduce compulsory testing for employees. The project failed at the time due to resistance from some countries. This could change now.
As reported by the “Business Insider” portal, the federal and state governments discussed mandatory testing for employees with customer contact on Monday. “The states agree that the 3G verification requirement, which is now regulated in many federal states, is a prerequisite for access to companies, facilities or other offers with direct customer contact not only for customers, visitors or other external persons, but also for employees should apply “, quotes the portal from a draft resolution. One strives for a “uniform procedure” in order to implement this promptly in the state regulations.
How often employees have to be tested and whether there will be alternatives to the test evidence, the individual departments can decide for themselves. Should operators accept proof of vaccination or recovery, the 3G obligation in the workplace in Germany could be imminent. Some federal states have already dared to advance. A test is already compulsory in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Bremen and Berlin – but there are differences in how the regulation is implemented in the individual countries.
Fear of staff shortages in France
Compared to other countries, Germany is still a long way from mandatory 3G in the workplace. France introduced this first. Since the end of August, around 1.8 million employees have had to prove that they have been vaccinated, tested or recovered. Weeks earlier, the government had already introduced the so-called health passport. This means that the French have to prove vaccination, recovery or a negative test in all public areas. The government’s decision had led to massive protests, among other things because companies recorded the obligation to provide evidence in the first few weeks since the introduction of the obligation to provide evidence.
Since then, France has tightened its corona measures even further. Vaccination has been mandatory for certain occupational groups since mid-September. Once you have been vaccinated, you must also show a negative corona test at your workplace. Unvaccinated people face an unpaid leave of absence. If the vaccination is rescheduled, the suspension can be shortened. According to the authorities, a discharge due to a missing corona vaccination is not possible. Among other things, workers in the health sector and civil defense are affected.
In particular, representatives of the nursing professions feared staff shortages and therefore looked at the new regulation with concern. Possibly wrongly, as figures from the French health authority suggested. Accordingly, around 84 percent of employees in the health sector were fully vaccinated in mid-September. Among the freelance doctors or outpatient nurses, it is said to have been as much as 91 percent.
Italy: Protests against the “Green Pass”
Recently, Italy also hit the headlines with its new Corona regulation. Similar to France, the government recently introduced the so-called “Green Passport”. If it was initially intended for leisure activities such as going to restaurants or the cinema, the 3G obligation has recently also applied to the workplace. Since Friday, only those who can prove a corona vaccination, recovery or a negative corona test have been allowed to come to work in Italy. Anyone who comes to work without the so-called green pass risks fines of up to 1500 euros. Anyone who stays away from work because they cannot show the document must expect unpaid leave of absence.
If you don’t want to be vaccinated, you usually have to do a corona test at your own expense and repeat it every 48 to 72 hours, depending on the type of test. According to the Ministry of Health, more than 85 percent of Italians over the age of twelve have now received at least one corona vaccination. However, it is estimated that up to three million workers are still unvaccinated. According to government data, the electronic Corona passport was downloaded more than 1.4 million times in the workplace in the two days before the obligation to provide evidence came into force.
In Italy, too, the government’s decision led to massive protests. Thousands protested last week against the introduction of the corona passport at work. According to the authorities, over 6,500 people demonstrated at the port of Trieste. Dock workers threatened indefinite strikes, even though they were offered free corona tests. Violent riots also broke out in the capital, Rome. Participants in the protest included anti-vaccination opponents and members of the neo-fascist Forza Nuova party.
Austria plans 3G proof in the workplace
After France and Italy, Austria is also planning to require employees to be vaccinated, recovered or tested. The federal government wanted to implement the regulation last week. The reason for the delayed introduction is the lack of a legal basis. Legally, the obligation to provide evidence was therefore only permitted for employees who are exposed to a significant risk of infection. The change in the law was passed in the National Council last Wednesday and confirmed by the Federal Council on Thursday at the earliest.
The planned 3G obligation in the workplace is less strict than, for example, in France. Austrian employees have to prove that they have been vaccinated, recovered or tested negative if they have contact with customers or colleagues. Anyone who does not adhere to the new regulation can be suspended without continued payment of wages. So far it is unclear how the evidence should be checked. It is also still unclear whether the mask requirement will no longer apply under 3G. Unlike in Italy, the obligation to provide evidence does not apply to employees working from home.
The 3G obligation has been in force in the healthcare sector for some time. With the planned expansion to other areas, the government hopes to increase the motivation to get vaccinated. In Austria, 65 percent are currently simply immunized and 62 percent of the population is fully immunized.
Sources: “”, “”, “”, “”, “”, DPA
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