scholarly journals Reasons for Low Protection of Vulnerable Workers from COVID-19—Results from the Quantitative and Qualitative Study on Working Life in Latvia

Author(s):  
Linda Matisāne ◽  
Linda Paegle ◽  
Maija Eglīte ◽  
Lāsma Akūlova ◽  
Asnate Anna Linde ◽  
...  

Several individual factors like older age and chronic diseases have been linked with more severe symptoms often leading to hospitalization and higher mortality from COVID-19. Part of adults with such factors is still active in the workforce. The objective of the study was to identify measures taken by the employer to protect them and to investigate reasons for low protection of vulnerable workers during the 1st wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Answers from 1000 workers collected via web-survey and results from 10 focus group discussions were analyzed. Only 31.5% of respondents mentioned that their employer had identified existing vulnerable groups and offered specific measures to protect them. Moving vulnerable workers away from the workplace was the most frequent measure (e.g., transfer to the back-office without contact with clients, telework, paid vacations, paid downtime). Most employers do not see elderly workers and workers with chronic diseases as risk groups, thus are not specifically protecting them. Instead, several employers have included workers critical for business continuity in their risk group. Others had not taken measures because of the lack of information due to general data protection regulation. Poor communication and lack of interest of employers to ask their workers if they need special protection is the topic to be addressed at the national level.

Author(s):  
Francisco García Martínez

The creation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) constituted an enormous advance in data privacy, empowering the online consumers, who were doomed to the complete loss of control of their personal information. Although it may first seem that it only affects companies within the European Union, the regulation clearly states that every company who has businesses in the EU must be compliant with the GDPR. Other non-EU countries, like the United States, have seen the benefits of the GDPR and are already developing their own privacy laws. In this article, the most important updates introduced by the GDPR concerning US corporations will be discussed, as well as how American companies can become compliant with the regulation. Besides, a comparison between the GDPR and the state of art of privacy in the US will be presented, highlighting similarities and disparities at the national level and in states of particular interest.


Author(s):  
Francisco García Martínez

The creation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) constituted an enormous advance in data privacy, empowering the online consumers, who were doomed to the complete loss of control of their personal information. Although it may first seem that it only affects companies within the European Union, the regulation clearly states that every company who has businesses in the EU must be compliant with the GDPR. Other non-EU countries, like the United States, have seen the benefits of the GDPR and are already developing their own privacy laws. In this article, the most important updates introduced by the GDPR concerning US corporations will be discussed, as well as how American companies can become compliant with the regulation. Besides, a comparison between the GDPR and the state of art of privacy in the US will be presented, highlighting similarities and disparities at the national level and in states of particular interest.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin R. Ortiz ◽  
Joanie Robertson ◽  
Jui-Shan Hsu ◽  
Stephen L. Yu ◽  
Amanda J. Driscoll ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackgroundWhen available, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will be deployed to countries with limited immunization systems.MethodsWe conducted an immunization capacity assessment of a simulated WHO African Region country using region-specific data on immunization, population, healthcare workers (HCWs), vaccine cold storage capacity (quartile values for national and subnational levels), and characteristics of influenza vaccines to represent future SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We calculated monthly increases in vaccine doses, doses per vaccinator, and cold storage volumes for four-month SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns targeting risk groups compared to routine immunization baselines.FindingsAdministering SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to risk groups would increase total monthly doses by 27.0% for ≥65 years, 91.7% for chronic diseases patients, and 1.1% for HCWs. Assuming median nurse density estimates adjusted for absenteeism and proportion providing immunization services, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns would increase total monthly doses per vaccinator by 29.3% for ≥65 years, 99.6% for chronic diseases patients, and 1.2% for HCWs. When we applied quartiles of actual African Region country vaccine storage capacity, routine immunization vaccine volumes exceeded national-level storage capacity for at least 75% of countries, but subnational levels had sufficient storage capacity for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for at least 75% of countries.InterpretationIn the WHO African Region, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaigns would substantially increase doses per vaccinator and cold chain capacity requirements over routine immunization baselines. Pandemic vaccination campaigns would add volume to national-level stores already at their limits, but sufficient capacity exists at subnational levels. Immediate attention to strengthening immunization systems is essential to support pandemic responses.FundingNone


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 114-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laima Okunevičiūtė Neverauskienė ◽  
Julija Moskvina

Vilniaus Gedimino technikos universitetasVerslo vadybos fakultetasSocialinės ekonomikos ir vadybos katedraSaulėtekio al. 11, 602 kab., LT-10223 VilniusEl. paštas: [email protected] socialinių tyrimų centroDarbo ir socialinių tyrimų institutasA. Goštauto g. 11, LT-01108 VilniusEl. paštas: [email protected] Straipsnio tikslas – apžvelgti išskirtų tikslinių grupių situaciją darbo rinkoje kintančių ekonomikos iššūkių kontekste ir suformuoti gaires tolesniems tyrinėjimams.Į apžvalgą pateko kompetentingų tyrėjų valstybės arba kitų suinteresuotų institucijų užsakymu atlikti darbai, daktaro disertacijos. Siekiama atskleisti pažeidžiamų gyventojų grupių integraciją į darbo rinką lemiančius veiksnius, nusakant, kaip skirtingo lygio socialinės ir užimtumo politikos įgyvendintojai efektyviausiai prisidėtų prie šių integravimosi procesų. Į apžvalgą taip pat įtraukti darbai, kurių pagrindinis tikslas nėra tiesiogiai susijęs su pažeidžiamų asmenų padėties darbo rinkoje problematika, tačiau rezultatai yra reikšmingi atsižvelgiant į skirtingų gyventojų grupių specifiką. Daugelis tyrimų yra taikomojo pobūdžio.Problematika, susijusi su rizikos grupių padėtimi ir perspektyvomis šalies darbo rinkoje, yra gana siaura, tačiau nuolat plečiasi – apima vis naujas socialinės ir užimtumo politikos sferas, o tai sudaro gerą pagrindą tolesniems tyrimams. Šiuo metu Europos užimtumo politikos kontekste plėtojama įtraukiosios darbo rinkos koncepcija (2010) numato didesnį darbingo amžiaus žmonių užimtumą, užtikrinantį asmeninę raidą. Šios vizijos pasiekimas numato galimybių patekti į darbo rinką didinimą, įskaitant ir sugrįžimą į ją po pertraukos, taip pat išsilaikymą darbo rinkoje ir visišką integraciją į ją. Straipsnyje nagrinėjama pažeidžiamų gyventojų grupių situacija, jos pokyčiai įvertinami per įtraukiosios darbo rinkos koncepcijos prizmę. Tyrimo metodai: straipsnio pagrindą sudaro lyginamoji statistinių duomenų analizė, specialių tyrimų rezultatai, 2004–2010 m. Lietuvoje įgyvendintų tyrimų (studijų), susijusių su darbo rinkoje pažeidžiamų gyventojų problematika, kritinė analizė, pritaikant įtraukiosios darbo rinkos koncepcijos nuostatas.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: darbo rinkoje pažeidžiamos gyventojų grupės, neįgalieji, jaunimas, pagyvenę asmenys. VULNERABLE GROUPS: EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGESLaima Okunevičiūtė Neverauskienė, Julija Moskvina SummaryThe review of the research on labour market groups at risk covers research conducted in the period between 2004 and 2010. It includes applied research carried out at the request of public authorities or other concerned authorities, as well as doctoral dissertations. Mostly, the research focused on such labour market groups at risk as disabled persons, youth and elderly people. The review revealed that special research on the situation of groups at risk in the labour market is a valuable source of information, since there is a lack of information on the national level. A further analysis of issues related to the integration of labour market groups at risk and instruments for reintegration of these groups into labour market would be of great importance.Keywords: labour market groups at risk, disabled people, youth, elderly people.


2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (17) ◽  
pp. 649-654
Author(s):  
Piroska Orosi ◽  
Judit Szidor ◽  
Tünde Tóthné Tóth ◽  
József Kónya

The swine-origin new influenza variant A(H1N1) emerged in 2009 and changed the epidemiology of the 2009/2010 influenza season globally and at national level. Aims: The aim of the authors was to analyse the cases of two influenza seasons. Methods: The Medical and Health Sciences Centre of Debrecen University has 1690 beds with 85 000 patients admitted per year. The diagnosis of influenza was conducted using real-time polymerase chain reaction in the microbiological laboratories of the University and the National Epidemiological Centre, according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization. Results: The incidence of influenza was not higher than that observed in the previous season, but two high-risk patient groups were identified: pregnant women and patients with immunodeficiency (oncohematological and organ transplant patients). The influenza vaccine, which is free for high-risk groups and health care workers in Hungary, appeared to be effective for prevention, because in the 2010/2011 influenza season none of the 58 patients who were administered the vaccination developed influenza. Conclusion: It is an important task to protect oncohematological and organ transplant patients. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 649–654.


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