All workers in Italy will be required to have a Covid “green pass,” which is confirmation of immunization, a negative test, or recovery from the infection.
The regulations are unprecedented in Europe and among the most stringent in the world.
Anyone who does not have a pass will be suspended from work and may have their salary halted after five days, according to reports.
The policy, which is set to take effect on October 15, attempts to increase vaccination rates in a country that has been severely affected by the virus.
Green pass certificates for Covid-19 are already necessary to enter Italian train stations, movies, restaurants, gyms, and swimming pools, and are available both online and on paper.
Staff at schools must also produce a pass, and several instructors have allegedly been turned away from their jobs.
The Italian government passed a new law on Thursday that would expand the rules to all companies and employees in all industries, including self-employed individuals.
If anyone are caught working without a valid green card, businesses and employees might face fines of up to €1,500 (£1,280).
Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced the decision, saying the additional restrictions will increase safety and “make our vaccine program even stronger.”
“We are certain that putting in place a pass like the one we’re putting in place with this order would help us go on with this vaccination program,” he added.
Despite a loud anti-vaccination minority, the government’s immunization effort has received widespread support in Italy.
Despite the fact that over 65 percent of Italians have been completely vaccinated, illnesses have been on the rise, owing to the Delta strain.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Italy has had over 4.6 million cases of Covid-19 and over 130,000 coronavirus-related fatalities since the outbreak began.
The green pass was created to make travel throughout the European Union more convenient, and some nations have since made it mandatory to present the certificate for various reasons.
For entry to restaurants, pubs, aircraft, and trains, France needs a health pass, while Austria and Cyprus are two other EU nations that have implemented similar policies.