An umbrella network of labor groups hailed the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment banning the “no vaccine, no work” policy of some employers to force their workers to get inoculated.
“The employees are grateful for the prompt positive reaction from DOLE. It is quite rare and precious for ordinary working people to praise the DOLE amid the adversity they are going through because of the pandemic crisis,” said Associated Labor Unions (ALU) spokesman Alan Tanjusay.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier approved Labor Advisory 03-2021 or the Guidelines on the Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines in the Workplaces which outlaws the “no vaccine, no work” policy.
The advisory said COVID-19 vaccination should not be made mandatory and that those who refuse to be vaccinated should not be discriminated against.
It also said workers cannot be terminated, refused promotion, or prohibited from entering the workplace just because they do not want to be inoculated. Vito Barcelo
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 indirectly, to employees, the advisory said.
Bello came up with the guidelines after workers being targeted by their employers for refusing to get vaccinated sought the help two weeks ago of ALU for fear of retaliation or termination from employment.