Employer COVID-19 Vaccine Policies

Published on Dec 31, 2020

We asked our member firms around the globe to provide some insight on employer and employee rights when it comes to requiring the COVID-19 vaccine to return to work. Can an employer compel compulsory vaccination? If yes, are there any exceptions or special circumstances that an employer must consider? Can employees refuse to be vaccinated - how does this balance against the freedom of choice and the obligation to provide a safe work environment? In the event of a refusal can an employee be dismissed for refusal to comply with such a vaccination policy - will that constitute just cause for termination? Click on a country to view the responses for that jurisdiction.

We will continue to update this page with additional countries and new information.

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Belgium

Contributor:
CMS Belgium
Gaël Chuffart, gael.chuffart@cms-db.com

Brazil

Contributors:
TozziniFreire

Ana Carolina Maciel Ribeiro de Almeida, amaciel@tozzinifreire.com.br
Gabriela Lima Arantes, glima@tozzinifreire.com.br

China

Contributor
Zhong Lun

Kent Woo, kentwoo@zhonglun.com

Costa Rica

Contributor:
Arias
Carolina Soto Monge, Carolina.Soto@ariaslaw.com

England

Contributor:
Gowling WLG

Jonathan Chamberlain, Jonathan.Chamberlain@gowlingwlg.com

Germany

Contributor:
Taylor Wessing

Dr. Johannes Höft, j.hoeft@taylorwessing.com
Dr. Michael Johannes Pils, M.Pils@taylorwessing.com

Italy

Contributors:
Gianni & Origoni

Raffaella Betti Berutto, rbetti@gop.it
Chiara Palombi, cpalombi@gop.it

Mexico

Contributor:
Santamarina y Steta

Franciso Udave, fudave@s-s.mx

Paraguay

Contributors:
Gross Brown

Sigfrido Gross Brown, sigfrido@grossbrown.com.py
Sol Avalos, savalos@grossbrown.com.py
Kamila Gimenez, kgimenez@grossbrown.com.py

Portugal

Contributor:
PLMJ

Nuno Ferreira Morgado, nuno.morgado@plmj.pt

South Africa

Contributors:
ENSafrica
Lauren Salt, lsalt@ensafrica.com
Jessie Moore, jmoore@ensafrica.com

Spain

Contributor:
Cuatrecasas

Álvaro Fernández Sánchez del Corral, alvaro.fernandez@cuatrecasas.com

Thailand

Contributor:
Chandler MHM Limited

Waree Shinsirikul, waree.s@mhm-global.com

Uruguay

Contributor:
Guyer & Regules

Santiago Madalena, smadalena@guyer.com.uy