The Department of Labor (DOLE) defended on Monday a new government policy mandating on-site workers to undergo vaccination.
At a news virtual briefing, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III explained the said measure is not illegal since it is based on management prerogative.
He also noted that the measure is not discriminatory since it still provides on-site employees the option to work.
Safety precaution
Under Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) Resolution 148-B, Series of 2021, unvaccinated workers in the government and private sector may still be assigned on-site provided they are regularly tested for novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The test could be done through Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) or through antigen tests.
“It is necessary to require a PCR test to ensure the workplace is safe,” Bello said.
Furthermore, the labor chief also said the IATF resolution bans companies from firing workers who may refuse to undergo vaccination.
Employees, who will not be deployed to work in this way, Bello said, are considered “excused” and will still qualify for wages.
Labor groups condemned IATF Resolution 148-B for being discriminatory and anti-labor and demanded the government to defer the implementation of the policy starting on December 1, 2021, until it could be reviewed.
Not running
Bello also announced he had decided to forego his plans to join the senatorial race in the 2022 elections since his condition for doing so was not met: Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio running for president.
Duterte-Carpio is currently running for vice president under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).
“So true to my word, I will not run for senator. Although that is not the only reason,” Bello said.
Bello also said he has several other unfinished business in DOLE, including addressing the needs of workers amid the pandemic as well as leading the government group of the International Labor Organization (ILO) to “democratize” the decision-making in the labor arm of the United Nations.
Bello earlier said he was eyeing to run for a senatorial slot in the 2022 polls through substitution after Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) included him in its senatorial line up.