Will mandatory vaccination shut down the Hungarian public transport?
Many employees in different sectors will be obligated to take the vaccine. Taking the jab will become mandatory for healthcare professionals, employees in state institutions and at the Defense Forces as well as for public transport workers since these employee groups are particularly affected.
Starting from November, employers in Hungary are authorised to make vaccines mandatory at the workplace. It is up to the employer whether he allows unvaccinated people to remain at the workplace or he will send them on unpaid leave. Those working at the Hungarian Defence Forces have to take the first jab by 1 December. Employees of state or municipal institutions have to take the first dose of the vaccine by 15 December if they work closely with clients. But even those employees who do not work closely with clients will be required to take the jab. The deadline for them is 31 January 2022.
You can read about other Covid-related regulations in this article or you should visit this link for further info. In a recent article we have informed our readers that
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that Hungary would receive an additional 15 million coronavirus vaccine doses by the end of this year. Furthermore, it has also been stated that employees of state institutions will be sent on unpaid leave with immediate effect if they refuse to take the vaccine.
The situation of public transport will likely deteriorate if taking the jab becomes compulsory. According to a statement of the President of the Railway Trade Union (Vasutas Szakszervezet) and the President of the Solidarity Bus Transport Union (Szolidaritás Autóbusz-Közlekedési Szakszervezet) given to ATV : “if vaccination becomes mandatory, both MÁV and Volán will likely cease to operate”.
The number of vaccinated railroaders matches the national standard. However, if the numbers are broken down to departments, the percentage is not that good. Those employees who actively take part in railroad transport have the worst figures regarding vaccination rate.
Read also: Hungarian virologist would introduce stricter restrictions for unvaccinated people!
The situation at Volán is not promising either. Employees are angry about the possible introduction of mandatory vaccination. Having said that, István Dobi’s, the chairman of the Solidarity Bus Transport Union, still believes that vaccination will not be mandatory. There is not a sufficient number of reserves employed at the company; therefore, it would likely cease the operation of Volán.
The new regulation authorises employers to send unvaccinated workers to unpaid leave. This unpaid leave can last even for a year. At local municipalities, the mayor is the decision maker in this regard. The only way to be exempted from the rule is to provide an official medical certificate that proves that the person is not advised to take the jab.