‘No vaccination, no work policy’ a source of confusion and discouragement – labor group

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) secretary-general Wennie Sancho said Thursday that an irritating sense of confusion and discouragement is now boiling up among the labor sector due to the proposed “no vaccination, no work policy.”

Sancho said Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello III has already junked the proposal, but an official government confirmation is necessary to allay the fears of the workers amid economic adversity.

He also said that the labor sector is already apprehensive of the intervention of the government by reducing the number of holidays resulting in the diminution of their wage and wage-related benefits.

Labor advocates are asking if these measures are necessary and what is the rationale behind it.

“Traditionally, it would have a negative impact on the Christmas celebration of the workers and their families. Now here comes another ‘hullabaloo’ on the no vaccination, no work policy, which would surely become a source of confusion and discouragement that would dampen the hope of the poor workers who could not avail of the free vaccination program of the government,” Sancho said.

“It will also have a chilling effect for the workers who feel that they can’t work unless they are vaccinated.”

Sancho added that this would only fan the rising tide of discontent among the workers who are experiencing all forms of economic inequities amid the pandemic.

“The government should issue a categorical statement denying this no vaccination no work policy, which now hangs like a sword of Damocles over the heads of the poor workers and also to the small micro business establishments who could not afford to finance the cost of vaccination for their workers,” he said.

Sancho stressed that “GAWA condemns in the strongest possible terms this irresponsible speculation in the midst of our struggle towards economic recovery.”