Germany is stopping sick pay for unvaccinated people who have to go into quarantine because of the coronavirus.
Previously, Germans could claim for income lost due to having to go into quarantine after returning from abroad or coming into contact with a positive case. Germany’s Health Minister Jens Spahn says the move was a matter of “fairness,” arguing that by the time the new rule comes into force on Nov. 1, everyone who wants the coronavirus vaccine will have had an opportunity to get the shot. Those who choose not to “will need to bear responsibility for this then, including the financial costs,” he says.
Read: Ontario extending paid sick leave program until end of 2021
Meanwhile, Ontario is extending a temporary paid sick leave program for workers until the end of this year. The province’s labour minister, Monte McNaughton, announced at the end of August that the coronavirus pandemic program that was set to expire on Sept. 25 will be extended to Dec. 31, 2021. He said the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant prompted the move to give more time for people to get vaccinated and to support infected workers.
Read: Liberals promising 10 sick days for federally regulated employees
And newly re-elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised on the federal election trail last month that his government will give 10 sick days to federally regulated employees. Both provincially and nationally, offering paid sick days to employees has been a hot topic since the start of the global pandemic more than 18 months ago. As of early May, only two provinces were offering this benefit on a permanent basis.
Read: What are the current provincial policies on emergency, sick leave amid the coronavirus pandemic?