Unvaccinated Workers in Germany May Lose Pay if Forced to Quarantine

(by The Local) – People in Germany who can’t work because they’ve been ordered into quarantine are entitled to receive pay. But some states plan to remove this right for unvaccinated people – a proposal backed by the German Health Minister.

If an employee is ordered into quarantine and cannot work, they are still generally entitled to receive wage compensation under the Protection against Infection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz) regardless of whether being vaccinated or not.

But some German states are now opting to remove this right for unvaccinated people. And German Health Minister Jens Spahn says he can understand this move.

It comes as pressure mounts on people eligible for vaccination who choose not to get their jabs. Germany’s Covid health pass – known as the 3G rule – which allows entry to lots of indoor spaces only for people who are vaccinated (geimpft), recovered (genesen) or tested (getestet) against Covid, is in place – and unvaccinated people will have to pay for tests from October 11th.

Meanwhile, some regions – including Hamburg – are allowing businesses to move to 2G rules – allowing access only for vaccinated and recovered people.

So far two German states have announced they will stop paying wage compensation for the unvaccinated who have to quarantine in future, German media including Bild reports.

In Baden-Württemberg, this rule change is coming into place from September 15th, while Rhineland-Palatinate is aiming for October 1st.

According to Bild, unvaccinated people in Hesse will also no longer be entitled to compensation in future, though no firm date has been given.

Berlin, however, will continue to allow compensation for all regardless of vaccination status.

Bavaria will continue to decide on compensation in each individual case. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein are pushing for a uniform regulation throughout Germany.

Other governments have not yet decided on any changes to the regulation. Read Full Article >