Bavarian economy sees compulsory testing for companies as critical

Nationwide, only 19 percent of all companies regularly test their employees for the corona virus. 28 percent want to start testing shortly. That was the result of a survey by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). There are still no general figures for Bavaria.

Business associations assume, however, that the picture in Bavaria is very different. Larger companies would find it easier to offer their employees test options than smaller or medium-sized companies. Corporations such as Audi and BMW, for example, are currently two-pronged in their test strategy. This means that both companies offer their employees quick tests in the company and self-tests at home. “After Easter, more than half a million self-tests will be distributed to employees in Germany,” said BMW.

Problem: Missing information for companies

Many smaller companies are still hesitant to even make tests available to their employees. The suitcase manufacturer Rox Hamann from the vicinity of Landsberg am Lech, for example, criticizes that it is an organizational problem to get enough self-tests for employees at all.

Once a week an employee drives to the local branch of the discounter to buy quick tests for colleagues. The problem is that his employee only ever gets ten tests, explains managing director Fabian Ewald. Half of his 50 employees work in production, the other half work from home or on short-time work.

In the current debate about compulsory testing for companies, Ewald mainly criticizes the lack of information. “Up to now we are all, I think I speak for many entrepreneurs, angry,” says Ewald. The entrepreneur himself generally tends to act, “because he has to. Politicians just react. You won’t get any further if you react,” says Ewald.

BIHK: Delivery bottlenecks make tests in companies more difficult

The general manager of the Bavarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manfred Gößl, welcomes the testing of employees in companies. However, he also adds: “Unfortunately, it is currently still being slowed down by delivery bottlenecks, both for quick tests and for self-tests.”

Business associations reject compulsory testing

Many questions about the process are still unanswered, reports the Association of SMEs in Bavaria. It rejects compulsory testing for companies. The Association of Bavarian Economy vbw sees it similarly. It once again calls on companies to expand corona test offers for their employees wherever possible. The vbw also rejects a statutory test requirement. For many companies, this would involve immense effort and would not be feasible in practice. “Many companies have their backs to the wall. Further bureaucratic and financial burdens are therefore not acceptable,” explains vbw Managing Director Bertram Brossardt.

Background: Merkel indicates future compulsory testing

The background to the discussion is the renewed question of whether there should be compulsory testing for companies. Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) showed herself dissatisfied on Sunday evening in the ARD program “Anne Will” with the implementation of the self-commitment of the economy that every employee who is not in the home office can be tested twice a week. Merkel made it clear that you have the impression that this will not be implemented across the board. Testing must be made “probably” compulsory in the factories.

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