Guard Jestoni Sabuco was skeptical about the vaccination against COVID-19 but what made him most nervous was the alleged threat of his agency.
“‘Pag daw po hindi kami magpabakuna po, sabi ng inspector eh matatanggal po, mafo-floating [status] kami,” he said.
According to the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), they are now receiving many complaints about the “no vaccine, no work” policy.
So they challenged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to intensify the inspection of employers.
“Malalakas ang loob ng mga kompanya na gawin ito kasi wala namang nag-i-inspect sa kanila… ‘Yung pormal na complaint na pumasok sa amin, mga 4 na company ito, combination po ito ng mga security agency tapos merong construction, meron pang isang GOCC,” said KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis.
The DOLE warns that the “no vaccine, no work” policy is illegal.
“It is an illegal policy, especially so na kulang pa tayo ng supply ng vaccine, so logic even demands na wag muna tayong magpilit,” said DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
In a Labor advisory released in March, a worker who refuses to be vaccinated is clearly prohibited from being fired or deprived of wages, benefits, and other rights.
Aside from workers in the private sector, some government workers are also reportedly experiencing the “no vaccine no work” policy.
DOLE warns vs. no vaccine, no work policy
In a memo obtained by ABS-CBN News, workers of an agency who have not been vaccinated are not allowed to enter and take leave.
According to the Civil Service Commission (CSC), it is prohibited.
“Voluntary po ang pagbabakuna wala ring issuance ang Office of the President na mandatory ang vaccination. Maraming violation [like] grave abuse of authority, etcetera,” said CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada.
The DOLE and CSC reminded that instead of intimidating, it is the responsibility of employers to explain to workers the importance of the vaccine.
The Department of Health presented the following COVID-19 updates:
- all COVID-19 cases: 1,667,714
- still recovering: 78,480, or 4.7% of total infections
- new recoveries: 7,937, reason to be 1,560,106 all recovering
- new deaths: 6, which raises the total local death toll to 29,128
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.