Monday 29 November 2021
Medium-sized businesses, hairdressers, retail
The economy is calling for mandatory vaccinations
By Christina Lohner
The fear of a new lockdown is growing. Small and medium-sized businesses are now also demanding mandatory vaccinations, and the vacation rental association FEWO even wants to exclude vaccine opponents. However, a duty would drive some unvaccinated customers onto the black market.
In numerous companies, the fear of the next lockdown is obviously great: Now even from the business world there are calls for a general compulsory corona vaccination, and they are getting louder. In the opinion of the SME Association BVMW there is no getting around it. Even the retail sector has a duty, although it may cost some customers. So far, the industry had emphasized above all that it was not a pandemic driver.
Employer President Rainer Dulger is also not averse to mandatory vaccination. Employers rely on dialogue and conviction, says Dulger on request from ntv.de. “Therefore, a statutory vaccination requirement is always only the second-best solution; however, it must not be ruled out from the outset,” said the head of the Federal Association of German Employers’ Associations (BDA). In the summer the employers had refused an obligation; Among other things, they shied away from the controls.
But now, for example, hairdressers are also relying on a mandatory vaccination. This is a difficult decision, said the President of the Central Association of the German Hairdressing Trade, Manuela Härtelt-Dören, to ntv.de. But from the point of view of entrepreneurs, it is in favor of a general compulsory vaccination or at least an obligation in the body-related services. “We have to make progress somehow,” says the head of hairdresser Härtelt in Göttingen with a view to the high fourth corona wave.
New haircut in dark corners
“Now we have a patchwork quilt again in the federal states with 2G and 3G,” complains Härtelt-Dören. For her salons in Lower Saxony, she expects a 2G-plus rule for customers from Wednesday, i.e. access only vaccinated or recovered plus mandatory testing. “We then have to test everyone before the store and also unvaccinated employees. It’s an insane effort – it would be better if all employees were vaccinated.”
However, according to the head of the association, customers are required to be vaccinated, as de facto already applies in some federal states with 2G. Instead of having their hair cut in “dark corners” in the salon, so black, as Härtelt-Dören reports. That was already shown in the lockdown, when all salons were closed. “Professionals can tell whether the hairstyle is from a professional.”
Another hard lockdown – especially at Christmas time, when the order books were filling up again – would be the “death knell” for numerous hairdressers, according to the association’s president. During the last lockdown, the emergency aid guidelines would not have taken effect for many companies. If they now have to fall back on their reserves, “many will not survive economically”. Even 2G means financial losses.
FEWO: Vaccination opponents provoke lockdown
In other industries, too, existential fears are back. BVMV Federal Managing Director Markus Jerger warns: “If companies and retailers had to forcibly close again during the all-important Christmas business, we would have an economic meltdown: Entire industries would be affected and a large number of medium-sized companies would not economically survive a renewed lockdown.” Compulsory vaccination would come too late to combat the fourth wave, but it would spare people and the economy from worse. “In view of the dramatic development of the pandemic, this is the only way to avert an impending lockdown.”
The association of owners of holiday apartments and holiday homes (FEWO) wants to exclude members who publicly advertise their opposition to vaccinations. “Anyone who refuses vaccinations and propagates this through our public channels in connection with his property as the landlord of a holiday apartment or a holiday home is damaging the statutory goals of the association and will be excluded,” says Fewo President Daniel Rousta. He also calls on the next federal government to introduce a general vaccination requirement. “Anyone who opposes the vaccination provokes the next lockdown. And the damage hits us all – including those who have shown solidarity in every situation over the past two years.”
However, not everyone in the industry sees it that way. The Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry refers to ntv.de on politics. “The subject of compulsory vaccinations is not primarily an economic policy issue, but a question of society as a whole that must be decided by politics,” says Secretary General Michael Rabe. “In general, the principle must apply to all possible measures that they are suitable, necessary and appropriate.”
IW boss demands clarity – and fast
Employer President Dulger also makes it clear: “However, the economy cannot make this decision for politicians.” Despite the fourth wave, an obligation to vaccinate remains a tricky decision – some industry associations do not want to comment on it. Dehoga CEO Ingrid Hartges recently said to “Zeit Online”: “As in society, there are different views in our industry.”
The most important thing for the economy is usually clarity and therefore planning security. The German Economic Institute (IW), which is close to the employer, is urging politicians to make a quick decision on compulsory vaccination. “The executive government and the traffic light coalition should clarify as soon as possible whether and to what extent a mandatory vaccination is possible,” demands IW director Michael Hüther. Advances in vaccination are a prerequisite for strong growth in the German economy in the coming year. It is essential to avoid renewed lockdowns.
The pandemic and the associated transport and production problems continue to weigh on the economy. According to IW estimates, gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by 2.5 percent in the current year. In the coming year – with rapid vaccination advances – the economy will grow by 4.0 percent.
Politicians have been calling for a general compulsory vaccination for a long time. For clinics and homes, Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil wants to introduce an obligation before Christmas. It could serve as a blueprint for a general vaccination requirement.