Following changes to its network of routes, the Latvian national airBaltic airline has commenced an internal process to hire back 20 former flight attendants. However, there is one requirement – they have to be vaccinated for Covid-19, according to publicly available information.
“All new employees whose duties include direct contacts with other people are required to be vaccinated during the pandemic. We have receive a five-star rating for our Covid-19 safety measures and until the end of May more than 70% of airBaltic employees will have received their first Covid-19 vaccine jab,” says airBaltic CEO Martin Gauss.
Latvian State Labour Inspectorate says, however, people have the right to refuse vaccination and this refusal is not to create any negative consequences for them as employees – employers are not allowed to demand explanations from their employees as though they did something wrong, suspend them or take other restrictive measures.
At the same time, Cabinet of Ministers rules state that crewmembers of ships and aircraft have to be vaccinated for yellow fever if they travel to countries in which this infection is present. The same applies to microbiology laboratory workers who work with pathogens.
Although the law details a requirement for compulsory vaccination for different diseases, the law does not require compulsory Covid-19 vaccination. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
