Mask Wearing Compulsory, Employee Vaccination Mandatory

As of November 1, the wearing of face mask will again be required on public transport, and employers may require their employees to be vaccinated to increase vaccination coverage. In the public sector, vaccination is mandatory, while in municipalities it is up to the mayors to decide.

The government decree states that masks will have to be worn on public transport, at stations and stops, as previously. Children under the age of 6 years, people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities and people with autism spectrum disorders will be exempted from wearing masks.

To increase vaccination coverage and protect workplaces, the government will allow employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against coronavirus as a condition of employment, either as a standard working condition for all employees or as an individual working condition, depending on the job.

For workers who have not yet been vaccinated, employers may set a 45-day deadline for the first vaccination. Employers who require vaccination must inform the employee of the measure, the deadline and the possible legal consequences of not vaccinating, either electronically (e-mail) or on paper. A worker who has a medical certificate stating that vaccination is contraindicated is not expected to be vaccinated.

If the worker fails to take the vaccination within the time limit set by the employer, the employer may order unpaid leave and, if the worker still fails to take the vaccination within one year, may terminate his/her employment with immediate effect by dismissal or resignation.