‘No vaccine, no work’ policy is not allowed – DOLE

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region-6 reminded private establishments and employers in the region that the “no vaccine, no work” policy is not allowed.

In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo on Sunday, DOLE-6 Assistant Regional Director Jesus Elpidio Atal Jr. warned that employers will be liable for implementing the “no vaccine, no work” policy in workplaces.

According to Atal, employers cannot force their employees to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

“Kung ang isang empleyado ay ayaw magpavaccine dapat indi siya maeliminate sa pagtatrabaho. Hindi pwede yung no vaxx, no work policy,” he said.

The DOLE 6 official reiterated Labor Advisory No. 3 of DOLE Central Office which prescribed guidelines on administration of Covid-19 vaccines in the workplaces.

In the advisory signed by Sec. Silvestre Bello III, DOLE expressly prohibits the no vaccine, no work policy.

“Any employee who refuses or fails to be vaccinated shall not be discriminated against in terms of tenure, promotion, training, pay, and other benefits among others or terminated from employment. No vaccine, no work policy shall not be allowed.”

Atal said employers who will implement such policy will be liable to pay the wages of unvaccinated workers who refused to report to work due to the policy.

“For example, if pinatupad at hindi na pumasok yung worker dahil walang bakuna, dapat bayaran nila yung sahod ng mga workers na hindi nila pinapasok dahil sa policy. Kailangan talagang pabalikin yung worker,” he said.

Atal added that workers can report employers who will implement such policy and the agency will conduct an inspection on the establishment to validate the violation.

“So far, wala pa kaming napasara na establishments dito because of that policy but yung mga employees pwede sila mangreport sa aming hotlines, Facebook account, or pumunta sa office namin sa Commission Civil sa Jaro, Iloilo City,” he said.

Nevertheless, Atal still encouraged workers in the region to have themselves vaccinated to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“Sa ating mga workers, ini-encourage namin kayo na magpavaccine, eto ay para protektado tayo to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Sa mga employers, gustohin lahat ma-vaccine, but huwag po naman tayo magbigay ng no vaccine, no work policy, hindi po pinapayagan yan,” he noted. (ERS)