(9 Oct 2021) Thousands of demonstrators protested Saturday in Rome against the health pass that Italian workers, both the public and private sectors, must display to access their workplaces from October 15 under a government decree. The demonstrators gathered in Piazza del Popolo shouting slogans against the so-called "Green Pass" and waving Italian flags. The measures are the first by a major European economy requiring proof of vaccination, a recent negative virus test or recovery from COVID-19 in the previous six months for all categories of workers. Slovenia and Greece adopted similar measures this week. But Italy's 2-trillion-euro ($2.35 trillion) economy, the third largest in the European Union, is a far larger target, and the measure underscores the government's determination to avoid another lockdown even as the numbers of new virus infections creeps up, mostly among the unvaccinated. Ministers said the measures were aimed at reinforcing Italy's economic recovery, with GDP forecast to grow 6% this year, at a critical moment in the pandemic as schools reopen and cooler fall weather moves more activities indoors, where the virus spreads more easily. They also expressed concern about the impact of any possible new variants. Workers face fines up to 1,500 euros ($1,765) and employers up to 1,000 euros if they do not comply. Public sector employees risk suspension if they rack up five absences for failure to show up with a Green Pass; private sector workers can be suspended after the first failure. The measures remain in effect as long as Italy is in a state of emergency, currently until December 31.Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...


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