22,950,000 Dram Fine for Employers with Unvaccinated Workers or Those Without Negative PCR Test Results

According to changes made by the Ministry of Health, starting from October 1, 2021, unvaccinated employees are required to present a negative PCR test certificate for the coronavirus every 14 days to their employer.

The fact-checking platform has attempted to understand how many inspections were carried out before and after October 1, and what the amount of fines has been.

The Health and Labor Inspection Body regularly conducts inspections in economic entities, paying attention to compliance with anti-epidemic rules due to the pandemic.

In August 2021, prior to the new regulations being adopted, the inspection authority conducted 3,017 inspections, followed by 5,430 inspections in September. In October, the number of inspections rose to 8,517, with 4,217 in November and 4,982 in December.

While the inspecting body recorded several violations in August, no fines were imposed. In September, only a fine of 100,000 AMD was issued for recorded violations. However, after the new regulations came into effect in October, fines reached a total of 4 million 550 thousand AMD for recorded violations. In November, the total fines amounted to 11 million 600 thousand AMD, and in December, the fines totaled 12 million 400 thousand AMD.

The most frequently recorded violations during inspections included crowding, lack of masks, improper record-keeping, and inadequate disinfection processes.

In response to a query from FIP.am, the Health and Labor Inspection Body reported that from October 14 to 31, a total of 154 protocols were created for the presence of employees without vaccination or negative PCR test results, totaling 2 million 750 thousand AMD in fines. In November, there were 148 protocols made with a total fine amounting to 9 million 200 thousand AMD, and in December, 127 protocols related to the same violations amounted to 11 million AMD in fines.

Thus, from October to December 2021, according to the new regulations, employers were collectively fined 22 million 950 thousand AMD for the presence of employees who did not present vaccination or negative PCR test results.