On Friday, October 15, 2021, Italy rolled out one of the world’s strictest COVID-19 requirements. In an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to move beyond the pandemic, Italy required the country’s entire workforce, including both public and private sector employees, to possess a government-issued health pass (i.e., the Green Pass).
Through the Green Pass, employees are required to show proof of (i) vaccination, (ii) a recent negative COVID-19 test result or (iii) recovery from COVID-19 in the past six months prior to returning to offices, schools, hospitals or other workplaces. Workers who fail to comply with the Green Pass requirement may be suspended and fined up to €1,500 (i.e., $1,760). Employers also may be fined if they do not monitor staff compliance.
Earlier this year, Italy required healthcare and school employees to have the Green Pass, which significantly increased COVID-19 vaccination rates in those sectors. Italy now hopes that this new Green Pass requirement will increase vaccination rates further.
We continue to monitor and analyze how countries are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and how governmental action affects employer-employee relations.
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