The government announced that as of 20th April 2020, masks (or alternative face protections) are mandatory when going outside when the required interpersonal minimum distance of 2 meters cannot be guaranteed. This measure is also applicable in the work environment.

On 17th April 2020, a new grand-ducal regulation introducing a series of health and safety measures to fight against Covid-19 entered into force. Amongst others, this regulation provides that:

• Employers have a responsibility to safeguard the health and safety of their employees. In this sense, employers must make sure that appropriate measures are taken to mitigate the risks for employees in the specific Covid-19 situation.
• Employers must provide individual protection equipment (face masks or alternative face protections) to their employees when necessary and ensure that masks are effectively worn when the situation so requires.
• Employers must work in close collaboration with the staff delegation (where elected) to inform their employees about the safety rules in force in the company by appropriate means, for example by posting clear instructions, internal regulations, and/or eventual penalties for health and safety breaches. Employees must also be trained on safety and the correct use of equipment provided. 
  Clients should also be informed of the safety rules applicable in the company’s premises.
• Employers must ensure that the premises are cleaned regularly and that work surfaces are cleaned and disinfected.

The Grand-Ducal regulation of 17 April 2020 remained into force until the end of the emergency on 24 June 2020 at midnight. Although this Grand-Ducal Regulation and the sanctions included therein are no longer applicable since 25 June 2020, these provisions are nevertheless still advisable in order to satisfy the general obligation to protect the health of employees.

Five free masks per employees have been distributed to employers in calendar week 17. In case no additional masks are available in the coming weeks, alternative masks are also allowed, please find below a brochure from the Health Directorate about wearing a mask as an additional barrier measure.

Useful links:

• Click here to download the Health Directorate brochure on wearing a mask as an additional barrier measure_
• Cliquez ici pour télécharger une brochure explicative sur le port du masque en tant que gest barrière additionnel_

Your contact for more details: EmpCrisis@arendt.com
(01/07/20)