The Government is urging employers and employees to use the updated guidance on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, with businesses now reopening.

Launching the updated Work Safely Protocol, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar, confirmed that vaccination will not be made mandatory.

“Vaccination will remain voluntary so it’s important that employers have guidance on how to manage any unvaccinated workers. This document gives that information,” he said.

The updated public health advice provides guidance on ventilation and vaccinations as part of the range of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19  in the workplace and the community, as well as information on the use of antigen testing in the workplace, as issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Department of Health.

The Work Safely Protocol (which is the second revision of the Return to Work Safely Protocol, first published in May 2020),also contains links directing employers and employees to a range of government departments and agencies where additional and more detailed information and guidance can be sourced.

The updated protocol sets out the minimum public health measures required in every place of work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to facilitate the re-opening of workplaces following temporary closures and the ongoing safe operation of such workplaces.