Italy: state of health emergency to end on 31 March

The Italian government has decided to gradually lift its anti-Covid measures. The health pass at work, which has been compulsory since 15 October 2021 (c.f. article No.12685), will remain in force until 30 April 2022, as will the wearing of masks in the workplace. While the requirement for those over 50 years of age to be vaccinated does remain in place in theory until 15 June 2022 (breach of which is liable to €100 fine), in practices as of 25 March this age cohort age (c.f. article No.12853) can access the workplace using just the health pass, and not the vaccination pass. The measure which provided that workers over 50 and who were unvaccinated would be considered as unjustified absentees and therefore ineligible for pay is accordingly lifted. In addition, simplified standards on smart working that were instituted at the beginning of the pandemic to facilitate remote working, will remain in force until 30 June 2022. Until then the individual employer-employee agreement as provided for by the 2017 law is not required, and employers who did not practice agile working before the health emergency but who wish to maintain these arrangements going forward will have time to get organized. In anticipation of the end of the health emergency, many large companies (c.f. articles No.12935,No.12863, No.12796, and No.12951) have, in recent weeks, commenced signing agreements with the relevant trade unions to define hybrid work in the post-pandemic era.