China: combatting discrimination against those who have contracted and recovered from Covid affirmed as an official priority Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders On 29 July, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the National Health Commission issued an ‘urgent’ directive aimed at ‘resolutely’ combating employment discrimination against those who have recovered from Covid-19. Indeed, given that even slightest sign of a positive Covid test can result in all business activities ceasing, many employers appear to have developing their own workplace-based zero tolerance illness policies which is translating into a form of punitive stigmatisation of those who have previously caught and recovered from Covid.
Free Austria: new Covid-19 regulation in effect as of 1 August 2022 National legislation A second directive, which came into force on 1 August and is valid until 23 October 2022 inclusive, relaxes the basic regulations implemented in Austria to tackle Covid-19.…
Free Italy: new Covid-19 protocol in the workplace National legislation On 30 June, as the seventh wave of Covid-19 sweeps through the country, Italy’s government and social partners signed a new Covid-19 workplace protocol, which simplifies the previous regulations,…
Argentina: the government is not renewing double job-severance pay National legislation Argentina’s centre-left ruling government (centre-left) has confirmed it is the definitive end for the ‘double indemnity’ provision that was in place for employment dismissals and which expired on 30 June 2022. The measure dates from 13 December 2019 and was taken amid an economic recession with the aim of curbing employment layoffs. To this end, it provided that in the event of ‘unfair’ dismissals workers should receive twice the amount of compensation to which s/he was entitled.
Free Luxembourg: Covid-19 related social security regulations for cross-border teleworking extended to 31-Dec-2022 National legislation On 24 June, a week before the series of exceptional telework agreements in terms of Luxembourg social security affiliation were due to come to an end on 30 June (c.f.…
Great Britain: first court recognition of long COVID as a disability Legal developments This unprecedented decision by a Scottish employment tribunal, following an unfair dismissal claim lodged by an employee, is something companies should keep an eye on, not least since until this point the government had been recommending employers not to consider long Covid as a disability and instead to operate on a case-by-case basis. With this latest employment tribunal decision, the complainant employee will be able to progress his claim and sue his employer for wrongful dismissal.
Free Great Britain: employers recommended not to consider long Covid as a disability National legislation On 09 May, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)*, released an update of its recommendations in which it says that employers should not have to recognise ‘long Covid’ as a disability.…
Free Italy: state of health emergency to end on 31 March National legislation The Italian government has decided to gradually lift its anti-Covid measures. The health pass at work, which has been compulsory since 15 October 2021 (c.f. article No.12685), will remain in force until 30 April 2022,…
Germany: Covid-related restrictions on companies to be lifted from 20 March National legislation On Friday 18 March, the Bundestag will vote on an amendment to the Infection Protection Act, which will formalise the rules for lifting many of the protective measures against Covid-19, planned for 20 March. The decision to lift these measures came at the start of the month, at a conference that brought together representatives of Germany’s federal government and the Länder.
Free Brazil: government sends pregnant women back to work National legislation The working conditions for pregnant women have been overhauled by Law 14.311, which was passed by Brazil’s chamber of deputies in February before being validated by President Jair Bolsonaro,…
