Italy makes it mandatory for all the works to show a government-issued COVID-19 pass. It has come into force. It is triggering protests all over Italy at key ports and fears of disruption. According to the new criteria, anybody on the payroll, both public and private, must have a ‘green pass’. The pass should be with a QR code as proof of full immunization. If they suffered from COVID-19 recently, one should have a recent recovery from infection or a negative test.
Employees without a pass will pay a fine of up to 1,500 euros. They can also face suspension without pay. Employers will have to pay a fine for letting workers work without the pass. Approximately, 85% of the population above the age of 12 years have taken their first dose of vaccination. This makes them eligible for the pass. A minority of people not vaccinated claim they are either oppose the notion.
A major northeastern port, labour groups had threatened to shut down operations. Approximately 6,000 protestors gathered outside the gates, some chanting and brandishing flares. 40 percent of Trieste’s port workers are not done with vaccination, says Stefano Puzzer, a local trade union official.
The Green Pass is a bad thing, it is discrimination under the law
“The Green Pass is a bad thing, it is discrimination under the law. Nothing more. It’s not a health regulation, it’s just a political move to create division among people…,” expresses Fabio Bocin, a 59-year old port worker in Trieste. Regional governor Massimiliano Fedriga says, “The port (of Trieste) is functioning. There will be some difficulties and fewer people at work, but it’s functioning.”
A witness claims that roughly 100 protestors stopped truck access in Genoa, Italy’s other major port. In Rome, riot police stood guard during a tiny event as protesters chanted “No Green Pass!”. “I think it’s a fair measure towards all those Italians who have tried to get out of this pandemic by getting vaccinated… I don’t see where the problem is,” says a Rome resident.
The administration anticipated that making the Green Pass mandatory would persuade unvaccinated Italians to reconsider. France was the first country in Europe to implement the green pass concept, stating in July that citizens would require a certificate to enter clubs, restaurants, trains, and flights.