DOLE chief: ‘No vaccine, no work’ policy illegal

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) warned on Wednesday that companies that will implement a “no vaccine, no work” policy may face possible sanctions

Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III issued the warning after receiving reports that some companies are requiring their employees to be inoculated for novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) before they could return to work.

He explained the dismissal or termination of a worker for refusing to be vaccinated is considered illegal.

“It is not legal for employers to require the employee to get vaccination before they can enter the workplace. It has no legal basis,” Bello said in an online news briefing on Wednesday.

The labor chief announced he would be issuing a new department order to protect workers from the said discriminatory policy.

Under the pending order, erring employers who will engage with the said practice will face administrative penalty for committing illegal suspension or dismissal of their workers.

Currently, DOLE is still presenting the draft of the order to stakeholders to comment on its provision before it could be finalized.

On Monday, the Associated Labor Union (ALU) expressed alarm over the plan of some companies to implement a “no work, no vaccine” policy, which it said is a violation of labor rights.

The labor group said the policy will cause a surge in labor disputes if not immediately addressed by DOLE.