Lithuanian health ministry has proposed that vaccination against Covid-19 be compulsory for workers in three sectors: social services, education, and healthcare.
Mandatory vaccination is also being considered for military and public administration staff. In other sectors, employers would be allowed to require their workers to get jabbed.
The ministry has presented the proposal in a meeting of the Tripartite Council – a body representing the government, employers and trade unions – but has not yet prepared the draft law.
Aušrinė Storpirštienė, a legal adviser to the health minister, said at the meeting on Monday that vaccination would become compulsory to workers in certain sectors during a state of emergency or a quarantine during pandemics.
“There will be exceptions if a worker cannot get vaccinated due to contraindications, specified by the minister, or when they have already been infected, meaning that they have immunity for a certain period,” Storpirštienė said.
Unvaccinated workers in education, healthcare and social services would have to work remotely or could be transferred to another job. If this was not possible, unvaccinated workers would be suspended.
Three months after the first day of suspension, the employer could dismiss workers without notice and severance pay if they still refused to get vaccinated.
Commenting on the proposal, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said that it had been under discussions for months and successfully implemented in some countries.
“The requirement is very reasonable, as these are people who work with vulnerable groups or in schools, where the risk of catching the infections for teachers themselves is very high,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
