Workers laud DOLE policy on vaccination

MANILA, Philippines — Workers yesterday expressed relief that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has declared the “no vaccination, no work” policy of some companies as illegal.

The Associated Labor Unions (ALU) said workers are now assured that they will not lose their jobs if they refuse to get vaccinated.

“The employees are grateful for the prompt positive reaction from the DOLE,” ALU spokesman Alan Tanjusay said in a statement.

Based on results of internal survey in several companies, many workers are not prepared to be vaccinated or are still undecided.

Workers are apparently reluctant to get inoculated for fear of adverse side effects from the vaccines.

The ALU reported that some employees were told by their supervisors that those who refuse to get inoculated will be reassigned to other branches or disallowed from entering the workplace.

Last Friday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III approved the new “Guidelines on the Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines in Workplaces,” which outlaws any “no vaccine, no work” policy.

In praising the DOLE guideline, Tanjusay said the plan of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas to issue a “no vaccination, no work” city ordinance covering government and private employees throughout the city has been stifled.

Tanjusay added that the DOLE advisory may also influence the ongoing “no jab, no job” debate in the United States and Europe.

“This Philippine government advisory saying workers cannot be coerced and discriminated against if they do not get vaccinated will serve as (a) mold (or) template in helping putting to an end the raging debate between business groups and workers there,” he said.

Workers cannot be terminated, refused promotion, or prohibited from entering the workplace just because they do not want to be inoculated.

The cost of vaccination in the workplace shall be paid by the employers and shall not be made to shoulder or passed on, directly or indiredtly, to employees.