Employers: give vaccinated people some liberties

The time has come to start introducing some special privileges and liberties for those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

So says Marita Rasmussen, CEO of the House of Industry, which oversees Faroese trade unions, including Føroya Arbeiðsgevarafelag (the Faroese Employers’ Union).

The union is calling on the authorities to introduce procedures and guidelines aimed at easing Covid restrictions for fully vaccinated people.

Rasmussen believes that fully vaccinated people should be allowed to enjoy any privileges deemed safe. Such privileges may include international travel with fewer inconveniences or gathering in larger groups than the recommended limit for unvaccinated people. 

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“Pettiness and envy should not stand in the way of fully vaccinated people enjoying a few more liberties than those who have not yet been fully vaccinated,” she says.

When asked if this would not amount to differential treatment of certain groups, she says: “If this is regarded as discrimination, then discrimination is OK in this case. Many of those who have now been vaccinated, e.g. health workers, have endured much greater restrictions than the rest of us, so it’s only fair that they are given certain privileges now.”

 >> SEE ALSO Vaccinated people must still follow safety rules

Responding to this statement, Framsókn (the Progress Party) says that it is fundamentally wrong to discriminate against some people just because they have not been vaccinated.

“A fairer solution would be to ease the Covid-19 restrictions for all our citizens,” says Framsókn party leader Ruth Vang.

The Faroe Islands have been Covid-free since Friday.

Prime Minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen has said that the government will provide updates on Covid guidelines this week.

Read the Faroese version of this article here

Translated by prosa.fo

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