Union phones cut off calls from both workers and employers: some space, what’s going on

“It is as if we are stabilizing the situation, and tomorrow everything will change. And again, there is anxiety, people call again, they do not know how to behave, both the employees and the employers. You see, the government resolution is coming out, and then nothing, and people don’t know what to do, ”said Inga Ruginienė, president of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation.

According to her, it is difficult for people to eliminate the feeling of uncertainty about tomorrow.

“We now had black for a few weeks on September 13, when it was said that manufacturing companies needed to run tests. How and where to do it, nobody explained anything, the businessmen interpreted how interesting it was, they massively violated the Labor Code and other things. (…) Now, that period, the government comes out and says: you will pay / you will not have to pay for the test, then the compulsory vaccination, (…) when you ask what the individual groups are, nobody knows. How does that person feel? You’re not sure about tomorrow, “I. Ruginienė was angry.

According to the union representative, tensions arise not only for those who have not been vaccinated, but also for those who have.

“And the masks? You need a mask, you don’t need, now you say there will be a need for a mask on the outside. Some kind of space, I don’t understand what is happening with the Government, is it overwork? ”, Taught I. Ruginienė.

Delfi points out that currently masks are mandatory indoors. Speaking of taking them outdoors, the head of the union confederation probably had in mind the idea expressed by Prime Minister Živilė Gudlevičienė’s health adviser on Knowledge Radio that if a two meter distance outdoors cannot be guaranteed, they should stand there. But so far the government is not considering anything about it.

However, the head of the union confederation repeatedly emphasized the lack of clarity in the conversation.

“If I make a decision, there must be a clear algorithm on how that decision will be implemented. Second, you must stop terrorizing ordinary employees, stop blaming the person for all their failures and use pressure and the scourge method to correct what they cannot do, ”said I. Ruginienė.

In his opinion, not increasing the tension alone would encourage vaccination.

“Because people are not stupid either, they see who is seriously ill, maybe a loved one died, that step by step will encourage many people to get vaccinated, but there is no need to increase the tension unnecessarily,” said I. Ruginienė angrily.

He disapproves of the idea of ​​compulsory vaccinations for some workers

The president of the union confederation rejects the idea of ​​introducing compulsory vaccination for some groups.

“First of all, it is difficult to say that it is for individual groups because the list of those groups is locked under nine locks. No one is clear about what those groups will be. When presenting such a serious bill, it was necessary to immediately discuss specific groups of professions, and there had to be a clear argument: why exactly those groups and not others ”, explained I. Ruginienė.

At the same time, he noted that when it comes to doctors, teachers, those occupational groups are still the most vaccinated, more than 90 percent of employees are vaccinated.

“Is it really necessary to use the scourge now for groups of these professions? The question is, who are the remaining employees who have not been vaccinated? As far as I know, the producing companies also vaccinate in a fairly orderly manner. Why is such a project accepted? From what I have heard from the government, older people take longer to get vaccinated and children go unvaccinated because they still can’t. So why are the penalties directed at the employee? I cannot understand this in any way, “taught I. Ruginienė.

Mandatory worker vaccination is still under discussion

After the government approved this Wednesday the granting of economic incentives of 100 euros to older people who decide to get vaccinated, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė explained that mandatory vaccination for workers in some areas was not considered, since it is being discussed in what shape should it be. legalized.

“Because the project itself did not clearly define what kind of employees we are talking about,” said I. Šimonytė.

According to her, the question arises as to whether these are matters of work organization for which the employers themselves should make proposals. Furthermore, according to her, the proposed wording itself could be interpreted in different ways.

“The question should be considered: should it nevertheless be an integral part of the Labor Code, which provides for certain procedures for the organization of work and the rights of the employer in the organization of work?” Then it would be a change from another law and of course a slightly different procedure, ”said the Prime Minister.

However, the Council of Ministers approved the proposal, which provides that as of December 1. Preventive testing for people who have not been vaccinated but must be tested because of the specifics of the job would no longer be funded by the state.

In such cases, the employees themselves would pay for the tests, unless the employer assumes the financing of the tests. Exceptions are made only for workers who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons or if there are not enough vaccines in the country.

“So what it costs taxpayers around tens of millions of euros in current circumstances, and can be justified in the absence of alternative pandemic management measures, namely vaccines, now that vaccines are available. for absolutely everyone and absolutely everywhere, it is really difficult to explain and justify.

For this reason, it is proposed to provide that as of December 1, if the Seimas adopts this law, giving enough time for all or those who have not been vaccinated, preventive tests, if they are mandatory, are paid like any other prophylaxis in the Transmissible framework. Disease Law. It is at the expense of the employee or the employer as agreed in the companies, ”said I. Šimonytė.

Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys added that around 19 million per year.

“We still have to realize that there is still work for the people and the entire infrastructure, the costs of which are very difficult to cover. The state has taken over the vaccine for every person and the test is just an additional measure to reduce the risks, but it doesn’t solve the problem in principle, “said A. Dulkys.

It is proposed that the Seimas consider this change as a matter of urgency.