THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Every month there are new laws and other legal changes. July 2021 is no different. Whether minimum wage increase, single-use plastic ban, compulsory measles vaccination or digital Covid-19 vaccination card: We have all the relevant changes at a glance!
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Statutory minimum wage increases
From July 2021, the minimum wage will increase by 10 cents from 9.50 euros to 9.60 euros. The minimum wage will continue to increase every six months eventually to 10.45 euros on 1 July 2022.
Ban on single-use plastic and polystyrene!
A whole range of single-use packaging and products are banned in the EU from 3 July. These include plastic cutlery and crockery, drinking straws and plastic cotton buds. Also, chopsticks and polystyrene packaging for food and drinks. The aim is to produce less waste.
Existing stock of the goods may still be sold by retailers beyond 3 July.
Cinemas open again
Cinemas, which were closed for a very long time due to the coronavirus pandemic, are supposed to reopen everywhere from 1 July.
Going to the cinema will probably not be as easy as usual yet. Like last year, cinema visits will be regulated in compliance with public hygiene and safety precautions.
In addition, whoever wants to go to the cinema must have tested negative, been vaccinated or have recovered from an infection, depending on the local Coronavirus ordinance.
In addition, cinemas must collect the contact details of their guests – either via the Luca app or the contact details form, which usually has to be downloaded from the cinema website.
Import duties on goods from non-EU countries
From 1 July, you will be asked to pay import duties on goods from non-EU countries. Until now, a 22-euro exemption limit applied to shipments from non-EU countries. This is to be abolished from 1 July 2021.
In concrete terms, this means that from 1 July 2021, import duties will be levied on every shipment of goods, which must be paid by the trader or directly by the recipient when collecting the goods from the post office or when collecting them from the courier service.
Doctor’s prescription goes electronic
The test phase for the e-prescription will start on 1 July in Berlin-Brandenburg. This means that you can also get doctor’s prescriptions digitally and a piece of paper will no longer be necessary.
If all this works well, e-prescriptions are to be compulsory throughout Germany from 2022. However, it should also be possible to print out the electronically signed prescriptions.
Digital Covid-19 vaccination card applies in EU
A new law in July 2021 will finally bring the digital vaccination card to the whole EU. From that day on, the vaccination certificate in the CovPass app or the Corona Warning app will be considered an official document that can be shown, for example, when entering a country.
In addition to all EU countries, the digital document is also valid in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. With this proof, there is no need for quarantine, which unvaccinated people would often still have to do in the event of an emergency. For air travel, the proof must usually be presented at check-in.
Measles vaccination of children
Children who are already in day-care centres or schools must have proof of measles vaccination by 31 July.
Staff in day-care centres, schools, refugee accommodation, health care or child minders born after 1970 must also provide proof of vaccination or recovery from the illness.
The reason for the determined action and the compulsory vaccination are the various measles outbreaks in recent years, after some parents no longer wanted to protect their children against the dangerous disease due to often false information spread by vaccination sceptics.
DHL parcel delivery men will no longer ring your doorbell
Normally, the delivery persons ring twice to let you know that you have a parcel. This will no longer happen in certain cases from July. Parcels will then no longer have to be delivered personally to the recipients.
If you have already chosen a certain drop-off location or are planning to do so, you will be affected by this new rule. Your postman will then no longer ring your doorbell.
However, the new rule can also be circumvented. If you still want the parcel carrier to ring your doorbell, you must inform DHL in writing. You can register for this at dhl.de. Alternatively, you can fill out an online form at dhl.de/ablageort-ohne-klingeln or send a letter by post.
Sola Jolaoso
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