Italy: Vaccine passports now compulsory for all workers

Rome: From October 15 onwards, all employees in the public and private sectors must have the pass which proves they are vaccinated, recently recovery or tested negative within the last 48 hours.

“It will help above all in making workplaces safer because employees have the right to go to work without a doubt or fear of being infected,” said Antonio Magi, the president of the Rome Doctors Association.

Workers without the green pass will have their pay suspended, but not their position. While health authorities say the passes are the only way out of the country’s COVID-19 crisis, many workers say it’s a breach of their rights and are threatening mass protests.

Sergio Bangrazi is the director of the Paracelso Institute and manages Italy’s biggest traditional Chinese medicine clinic. He said that while some may find the measure extreme, he believes it’s essential, “the green pass is a great solution for countries like Italy in curbing the infection rate, and we’re confident it will help us see the end of the crisis.”

Enforcement rests with the employer, and there are hefty fines for non-compliance.

“The board or manager of any company has important responsibilities but each person and worker in Italy also has their own responsibilities to face,” Bangrazi added.

This responsibility becoming mandatory has angered many workers who argue it’s unconstitutional, and protests have broken out across the country.

“Clearly, the aggression and violence must be condemned, and we must keep in mind that it is a minority of workers in this no-green pass category,” said Luca Maria Colonna, the National Secretary of the Italian union of metalworkers, Uilm.

There is concern that the majority of those likely to refuse the pass would be essential workers who could throw the country’s transport and logistics sector into chaos.

And there are also questions around supply and demand for the millions of unvaccinated workers who will need to carry out multiple tests each week.

But health authorities say the necessary supplies are available and want other countries to follow suit.

“Italy is doing well to make the green pass compulsory in workplaces, and now other European countries should do more to protect their workers,” Magi said.

The new rules will be in effect until at least the end of December, when the country’s State of Emergency will be reviewed.