Are employees forcibly vaccinated? How business is responding to the threat of a new lockdown

In Ukraine, the number of patients with coronavirus is growing every day, the regions are moving into the red quarantine zones, and this affects the work of Ukrainian business. After all, entrepreneurs, once again, have to adapt to new conditions.

What are the authorities saying?

In the red quarantine zone, businesses will be able to continue working if the main condition is met – 100% of employees and visitors will be vaccinated.

“Business will be able to operate in these regions if all employees and all visitors have green covid certificates,” – said Prime Minister Denis Shmygal.

At the same time, employers have the right to dismiss and not pay salaries to employees who refuse to be vaccinated. They are allowed to do this by the recently adopted by the Ministry of Health Order No. 2153, which comes into force on November 1. In addition, the Ministry of Health is gradually expanding the list of professions for compulsory vaccination. But, many Ukrainians do not want to be vaccinated, even on pain of losing their jobs.

At the same time, according to a survey conducted by the European Business Association among representatives of small businesses (FLPs), who are members of the project of the Association for the Support of Small Business Unlimit Ukraine, 28% of the interviewed FLPs have not yet managed to reach the pre-quarantine level of income. 48% of entrepreneurs were able to recover their income, and 7% were even able to increase it.

How do businessmen feel about compulsory vaccination?

“This has already not had a very positive effect on my business. Bargaining has decreased, restrictions have also left their mark. Our government cannot save business with its payments, this will help few people, many entrepreneurs have already cut their staff and continue to lay off, this means that it is good Vaccination will not save us either. I have three employees, they do not want to be vaccinated, but I cannot force. – Natalya, the owner of a shop selling paints for cars, told “Today”.

But the owner of the capital’s beauty salon, Ekaterina, is more optimistic, she has 15 employees. Many have been self-vaccinated, and some have recently been vaccinated. Although the quarantine was a test for her business.

“After we went to work (after the lockdown -” Today “), we incurred very large costs to meet the standards for preventing infection with COVID-19. Masks, gloves, antiseptics have risen in price by 5 times. 5 times. Monthly for a hairdressing salon of 40 sq. M. About 10 thousand UAH is spent on masks, gloves, antiseptics. Also, when we returned to work, we immediately felt an outflow of clients, as many of them simply lost their jobs and went home That is, in the high season we incurred additional expenses, but we earned less than usual by 30-36% – it depends on the month “, – she told “Today”.

Is it beneficial to vaccinate employees?

Economist and financial analyst Oleksiy Kushch notes that it is more profitable for Ukrainian entrepreneurs to vaccinate their team and continue working than to close for the quarantine period. According to the expert, such measures will avoid mass layoffs, support the economy and stay afloat.

But, lawyers have found another way for Ukrainian businessmen to fulfill the conditions of the government and keep their business afloat.

“An alternative to vaccination, which the Ukrainian government could also introduce, is testing at workplaces and removing only those workers who have a coronavirus infection,”explain the lawyers.

“Today” also wrote how powerful the new wave will hit small and medium-sized businesses.

They also talked about whether banks would serve unvaccinated citizens.