News

Schweng: It is possible for companies to avoid hiring a worker if he refuses vaccination

Brussels (Belgium), Nov 29 (EFE), (Camera: Leopoldo Rodríguez).- The president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Christa Schweng says that "obviously it is possible" for companies to avoid hiring a worker if he does not want to be vaccinated against Covid-19. SOUNDBITES OF CHRISTA SCHWENG, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE (EESC): 1.- "I don't think it has to be mandatory, because a vaccine is an attack and each one must decide individually whether or not they want it for themselves."2.- "Obviously it is possible. As an entrepreneur, I can decide with whom I sign a contract."3.- "Forcing it from the state, I see it complicated... For a businessman to say that he only wants vaccinated people in his company, we will see. I don't know if they will (allow it)."4.- "From my point of view, this crisis has shown how important Europe is and how important European cooperation is in the EC contracts with pharmaceutical companies to guarantee vaccines for all of Europe. It was a good idea. With individual action by the Member States, it would never have worked so well and this is where we say that a European Health Union is needed."5.- "It is important that this astonishing amount of money must be unlocked so that it reaches the right place: workers who need a job now or those who are in an ERTE (furlough scheme) or who are simply looking for a new job. I think it is very important that the money gets where it it has to be quickly and, for that, we need this agreement. I have high hopes for the 10-11 December summit." 6.- "Hope is the last thing you lose. We have to hope that there will be an agreement. What is always negative, in any case, is the uncertainty. It is a fundamental problem for companies. Especially when you can't plan anything."7.- "When it is said that Islamism is the same as terrorism, it is totally false. Condemning other people who have a different belief from Christianism is completely wrong." 8.- "What we usually see is that in the host society, integration has not worked well and that the problem (does not remain) in the first generation, but in the second and third generation. It is a job for European society to see why it has happened. Why do they become so dependent on the host society? Why, even if their parents or grandparents grew up here, they don't have the feeling of belonging (to this society)?"9.- "It always depends on what is done. If you are a man or a woman, it is secondary. The important thing is to take your job seriously and do it with enthusiasm."10.- "Women do not dare to do many things and there are many things they do not do. I can't say if the world would be better if there were women in power."11.- "If we question it, we also question a part of participatory democracy. I do not think that Europe, which is used to operating only in the Brussels sphere, should surrender to participatory democracy."