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Berlin (dpa) - With a view to the home office requirement, trade unions are pressing for controls - and, if necessary, sanctions for non-compliance.

DGB boss Reiner Hoffmann told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (Thursday): "It is a weak point that there are not enough staff to monitor compliance with home office rules and occupational safety."

For a credible fight against the pandemic, noticeable sanctions are necessary in the event of significant violations of occupational safety and home office rules.

Employers who are not willing to go along with the situation would then think three times about taking this risk.

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Verdi also called on employers to implement the ordered measures responsibly - and the authorities to check this: "The supervisory authorities must monitor compliance with the requirements and punish violations consistently," said Dagmar König, a member of the Verdi federal executive board, on Thursday.

Companies in Germany should at least temporarily be encouraged by a new regulation to offer employees more home offices in the pandemic.

Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) presented a corresponding “Corona occupational health and safety ordinance” to the cabinet on Wednesday.

In the explanations of the ordinance, his ministry speaks of a "duty" to offer home offices "as far as this is possible according to operational conditions".

Verdi welcomed the regulation, but criticized that it did not achieve the stated goal.

With the Corona Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, employers would be encouraged to implement even more intensive measures to reduce contact.

"However, these regulations are not sufficient," said König.

Among other things, there were no specifications for work equipment in the home office by the employer, for assuming the additional costs incurred for working from home and a statement on accident insurance protection.

In addition, there is no consistent effort to encourage the wearing of FFP-2 masks.

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The German Association of Officials also welcomed the requirement to work at home if it is possible.

"We encourage our colleagues to do this, because we consider the appeal of the federal government to be important to relocate as much as possible to the home office," said chairman Ulrich Silberbach on Thursday to the radio station SWR Aktuell.

Unfortunately, this is often not possible: According to a current survey, home work is possible at the federal level for 67 percent of employees.

At the state level, Silberbach put the proportion at 55 percent.

In the public service of the municipalities, home office can only be used by 35 percent.

According to Silberbach, the main reason for this is the lack of technical equipment: “For years we have sewn the public service to the edge.

And that is now taking its toll. "

It had been neglected to create sufficient line and server capacities.

"The willingness is very high - but the technical possibilities are lacking."

This also applies to the end devices.

Due to the legal requirements, it is often not possible to use the private laptop.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210121-99-119726 / 2