DoLE hits ‘no vax, no work’ policy

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has banned companies from enforcing the “no vaccine, no work” policy.

According to the DoLE Labor Advisory 3, Series of 2021 or the guidelines on the administration of Covid-19 vaccines in the workplaces, “The vaccination policy in the workplace is not mandatory and no cost of the vaccination shall directly or indirectly be charged to the employees.”

This, according to DoLE Region 3 Labor Relations and Labor Standards Division chief Maria Rima Hernandez, applies to employers in the private sector that intend to establish a vaccination policy in their respective workplaces.

She reiterated the advisory during 7th board meeting of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board.

“There should not be any discrimination in the workplace if an employee refuses to be vaccinated. This applies to the employee’s tenure, promotion, training, pay and other benefits, or termination from employment,” she added.

The DoLE official said that the management and employees must agree on the vaccination policy, with or without any conditions or undertaking, before its implementation to avoid conflicts.