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The Lucerne cantons are not ready for the first step on May 11, unions complain. They ask for more inspectors to verify compliance with the protection measures.
The next step of opening the crown lock follows in a week. If you believe in the Lucerne unions, the Canton of Lucerne is not ready for this step. This was confirmed by representatives of the Lucerne Trade Union Confederation (LGB), the Unia union and the Association of Public Service Personnel (VPOD) at a press conference on Monday morning.
Specifically, employee representatives complain that the implementation of protection concepts comes to light, that “the canton lacks the resources necessary to control and support companies.” Unions mean workplace controls for compliance with federal government prescribed protection measures.
“Protective measures are new territory for many employers,” says LGB President Martin Wyss. These are tried, but “often overwhelmed.” The cantonal supervisory authority for industry and commerce (Kiga), with the human resources currently available, is not in a position to carry out controls in the cantons, according to Wyss. Therefore, unions demand that staff be assigned to checks, as was done when short-term job applications were processed at the WAS Luzern cantonal service center.
Are staff adequately protected when bars and pubs reopen? The Houdini bar in the new city of Lucerne.
Second Crown Wave Warning
“We don’t want unnecessary business and bus closings,” says Wyss. Rather, controls should serve to inform companies of the correct implementation of protection concepts and to protect workers. Wyss concludes that companies had difficulties implementing these concepts, according to which, according to him, there were complaints in more than half of the Kiga inspections carried out.
“A second corona wave would have fatal consequences for Lucerne’s economy,” Wyss continued. “Systematic controls and anonymous employee surveys are needed.” The LGB president demands that unions have to participate in these processes.
Giuseppe Reo, regional head of Unia Central Suiza, says the unions have offered to help. However, this was rejected. It also notes that almost no checks were carried out in the first two weeks of the measures because inspectors were feared to be infected with the virus.
Reo also believes that the population is beginning to be negligent. As of May 11, when many companies reopen, this endangers “the people who work there.” He also warns of a second wave and speaks of a “great catastrophe” in this context. And: “We want to protect and support SMEs. We will only survive this crisis together, “said Reo.
People in the risk group had to work
Viviane Hösli, managing director of VPOD Luzern, refers to the many employees in the public service who would have continued their work “for the benefit of the population”. By this he means people in the social and health sector, but also in public transport. “The occupational fields mentioned are completely financially undervalued,” says Hösli. Therefore, it requires “developments in this area”.
The VPOD executive also reports on cases in which people belonging to the risk group still had to continue working. “This situation is acute in social and care situations,” says Hösli. “We get desperate calls from affected employees.” The VPOD recommends refusing to work if the risk group is medically certified, says Hösli.
