Ministers and guest speakers discussed amendments to the Covid-19 Infection Control Law, which provide for the right of an employer to terminate the employment of an employee who has not obtained a Covid-19 certificate.
Egils Baldzēns, the head of the Latvian Free Trade Union Confederation (LBAS), emphasized at the government meeting that the organization he represented has significant objections to the draft law. He informed that the board of LBAS strongly opposes the mentioned amendments to the law and believes that vaccination against Covid-19 should be voluntary. In his speech, LBAS also referred to the experience of other countries in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
For his part, the Prime Minister reminded those present that the aim of the government is to ensure that schools can work in person and that there should be no extensive restrictions. Kariņš emphasized that this could be achieved by gaining immunity, which in turn could be provided by vaccination against Covid-19.
The Prime Minister also referred to the report of the Estonian health authorities that the third wave of Covid-19 has already started in this neighboring country, and, as Kariņš pointed out, Latvia will not avoid the third wave of Covid-19 either, so the issue of sufficient a wave of pandemics would not be expected with mass hospitalizations and fatalities.
Assessing the government-backed bill, which provides for the right of an employer to terminate the employment of an employee who has not obtained a Covid-19 certificate, Kariņš acknowledged that “all means are good” in the fight against the pandemic.
“We have talked about incentive measures to promote vaccination, we see the information campaign launched, which addresses people. This bill has also been prepared with the aim of achieving a change in the behavior of the population,” the prime minister said.
It has already been reported that after October 1, the employer will have the right to dismiss an employee who has not obtained a Covid-19 certificate, according to the draft amendments to the Covid-19 Infection Spread Management Law approved at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The authors of the draft law pointed out that the amendments to the law envisage a new approach to reducing the spread of Covid-19 infection and protecting the health of each individual by imposing an obligation on state institutions to provide epidemiologically safe services and an employer’s obligation to provide an epidemiologically safe work environment.
The final decision on changes to the law will have to be made by the Saeima.
Others are currently reading
Allah Pugacheva’s ex-husband has gone to his sun
Tens of tons will be composted – the situation in the strawberry fields is dramatic
–
–
–
“It wasn’t a fall injury” – a dead young woman is found in Dāviņi village
–
–
–
–
–
– .
