Wage replacement for unvaccinated people in quarantine: “It’s about fairness”

Should unvaccinated people in corona quarantine continue to receive wages? Federal Health Minister Spahn is against it – for reasons of fairness. Criticism of his attitude comes from SPD health expert Lauterbach.

Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn has defended the planned end of continued wages for unvaccinated people in quarantine. “It’s not about pressure, but about fairness,” said Spahn in the joint morning magazine of ARD and ZDF. “Why should others pay for someone to choose not to get vaccinated?” To get vaccinated is a free decision, said Spahn. “Freedom of choice also includes responsibility.”

So far, employees who have to be in quarantine have been compensated for their loss of earnings. However, some federal states have already decided to end this practice. You are referring to a passage in the Infection Protection Act. Today, the federal and state health ministers want to discuss a nationwide regulation and a deadline in Munich.

Lauterbach warns of the end of the continued payment of wages

Criticism of the planned end of the continued payment of wages comes from SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach, who expects a widespread refusal to quarantine and a decline in willingness to test if the plans are implemented. A nationwide regulation is basically “correct and important”, said Lauterbach of the “Rheinische Post”. “However, I would think it would be wrong if those who have to go into quarantine were not reimbursed for their loss of earnings. This will mean that the people affected will not even go into quarantine.”

He therefore preferred the solution that wages would continue to be paid nationwide even during the quarantine period, Lauterbach said. “I even expect that if there is a loss of earnings in quarantine, the willingness to test will decrease,” said the SPD member of the Bundestag. “It is absolutely far from life that people can be tested at their own expense and then, in the event of a positive result, go into quarantine without compensation for earnings. That will not take place.”

DGB boss sees potential for conflict in companies

The head of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), Reiner Hoffmann, was also critical. Abolishing the continued payment of wages for unvaccinated people in quarantine equates to introducing mandatory vaccination through the back door, said Hoffmann in the Info radio of RBB. Politicians are avoiding a clear decision and shift the conflict to the employees. Instead, politicians must consider whether they want a general vaccination requirement.

Hoffmann also pointed out that employers would then have to inquire about the vaccination status of their employees in order to be able to apply for compensation payments. “There is no legal basis for this, because in some cases it can also mean that employees’ sensitive health data must be disclosed.” That makes the whole thing complicated and conflict-prone, said the DGB boss.