COVID-19: Suspension Of The Employment Contract For Some Employees Without Health Pass

• Published date: 28 July 2021
• Subject Matter: Employment and HR, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Contract of Employment, Health & Safety, Employment and Workforce Wellbeing
• Law Firm: Soulier Avocats
• Author: Mr Fabien Pomart

The Health Crisis Management Bill was just passed last Sunday, July 25, 2021. Some of its provisions make working as an employee conditional on the presentation of a vaccination certificate or a certificate of negative test result for COVID-19. The lack of certificate entails the suspension of the employment contract.

Article authored in collaboration with Matthieu Blaschczyk

As from August 30, 2021, employees working in certain business sectors will have the obligation to present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a COVID-19 negative test certificate ("Health Pass").

The sites where this obligation will apply are:

• Leisure venues;
• Commercial catering businesses and drinking establishments;
• Venues for professional trade shows, fairs and seminars.

As such, employers will have to check that their employees have been vaccinated or have in their possession a COVID-19 negative test certificate.

Whenever an employee who is subject to this obligation does not present such a document, he/she may, in agreement with his/her employer, choose to use paid vacation days or so-called "RRT days" (i.e., additional rest days resulting from the reduction in working time).

Failing this, the employer must notify the employee on the same day, by any means, of the suspension of his/her employment contract until the employee is able to present a proof of negative COVID-19 test result or a vaccination certificate.

This suspension will entail the interruption of the payment of the remuneration during the relevant period.

If the employment contract remains suspended for a period equivalent to more than three worked days, the employer will have to summon the employee to an interview in order to examine with him/her the possible means to regularize the situation. It will be possible to temporarily assign the employee to another position that is not subject to the obligation...