Considering the Covid-19 vaccination indexes among working residents, Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS) invites the government and the parliament to lift restrictions that prevent employees from doing their job if they don’t have a valid Covid-19 certificate, said LBAS chairman Egils Baldzēns at a press-conference.
Explaining the trade union’s position, he said the Ministry of Economy’s report on the vaccination coverage among working people for January indicates that 96% of employed people have undergone vaccination. According to the leader of the trade union, this is a very high index. This is why LBAS believes «the time has come to put an end to excessive regulation» in the context of covid restrictions.
«We believe restrictions are unjustified. We have developed a counter-plan, because the situation is that the economy needs freedom and ability to work at full capacity,» said Baldzēns.
LBAS believes it is necessary to lift all currently closed down sectors of the economy. Additionally, the organisation also believes it is necessary to lift restrictions on open hours and the requirement for stores and other locations to provide a set area per customer so that they are able to work more freely. LBAS also supports the maintenance of the Baltic States bubble so that Latvia’s economy does not fall behind its Baltic neighbours.
Read also: Covid-19 in Baltic States. 4 144 in Latvia 9 030 in Lithuania, 2 898 in Estonia
At the same time, LBAS manager said the organisation does see the need for certain epidemiological safety measures. Among them, Baldzēns mentioned safe distance, airing of rooms, disinfection requirement, screening and internal safety measures for sectors and of the economy and separate institutions.
Latvian trade union proposes cancelling rules preventing work without Covid-19 certificate
