Two associations for employers have expressed their agreement with the idea of employees presenting their vaccination certificates to be able to access the workplace. 

Speaking on TVAM this morning, the director general of Malta Employer’s Association Joseph Farrugia and Malta Chamber of Commerce President Marisa Xuereb discussed this view. 

Farrugia argued that the virus does not discriminate against people who enter restaurants or those who enter the workplace. There are ongoing discussions concerning within employee relations board about whether the certificate should be made mandatory to enter workplaces. 

Xuereb highlighted that she is not advocating for employers to forcibly make people get the vaccine but stressed that employers also have the right to see whether a high risk of infections is keeping unvaccinated employees from reporting from work. 

Discussing the quarantine period, Xuereb said that ten days are enough, but suggested 7 days for those who have been vaccinated. She said that 20% of the Chamber employees are in quarantine and it is thus very difficult to operate. 

Farrugia continued by saying that the quarantine period is the authorities’ prerogative, insisting that should they note that the virus is not as strong, quarantines should be shortened given cases do not increase. 

He also said that 20% of workers in quarantine is, given the pandemic situation, a realistic one but said that only 20% to 25% of employees can use teleworking or remote working. 

#MaltaDaily