Business owners and employers are not required to sign a written pledge that they would accept any future liability for coronavirus exposure claims by customers or employees, provided all health and social distancing guidelines in the workplace issued by the Health Ministry are followed through.
The announcement by the Health Ministry came in response to correspondence by Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture to President Hassan Rouhani to protect employers against the potential liability of exposure claims, Tccim.ir reported.
In the ever-changing landscape of the coronavirus pandemic, operating businesses should be proactive in limiting these risks. They should monitor and comply with the guidelines of the National Coronavirus Headquarters.
These businesses should also consider taking steps to protect themselves against possible future liability for coronavirus exposure by an employee or customer claiming to have contracted coronavirus while in their workplaces.
Concerns expressed by business owners and employers led TCCIM to ask the government for a revision of Article 85 of Iran’s Labor Law in the wake of coronavirus and the uncertainty it has brought into the most routine interactions, both in and out of the workplace.
Article 85 of the Labor Law says, “In order to protect the human and material resources of the Islamic Republic of Iran, all workplaces, employers, workers and trainees shall observe such instructions as may be drawn up by the High Council for Occupational Safety (with regard to occupational safety) and by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (with regard to the prevention of occupational diseases and the maintenance of occupational health and workers' health and the work environment).”
Underscoring the legislation on proper implementation of safety and health regulations in workplaces, the Health Ministry issued a revised written statement, according to which economic players and employers seeking to reopen their businesses only make a pledge on complying with all health guidelines declared by the ministry.
