By NG Seruela
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) asserted that holding the salaries of unvaccinated employees is prohibited.
In the Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday (Oct. 19), DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Santos Benavidez said two violations are committed by the employer for the “no vaccine, no pay” policy—one is the non-payment of wages and two, withholding of wages.
“May criminal aspect nga po ‘yung withholding of wages at ito po ay may kaakibat na parusang pagkakakulong at multa o kaya man multa at pagkakakulong…Pero ‘yung unang bahagi po, ‘yung non-payment of wages, ito po ay isang administrative proceeding lang; ito po ay nasa hurisdiksiyon po ng Department of Labor,” he said.
Benavidez reiterated that the policy is illegal. He urged the public to report employers who implement the “no vaccine, no pay” policy.
“Gusto po naming ipagbigay-alam sa publiko, sa mga manggagawa na bawal po ‘yung ganito pong iskema na ‘no vaccine, no pay’ policy – iligal po ito.”
However, Benavidez clarified that the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) resolution that requires vaccinated employees to work on allowed establishments is an “exception to the rule.”
“Kasi ang general rule po talaga doon po sa mga establisyimentong ito ay bawal pa po talaga silang mag-operate o bawal pa po ‘yung dine-in. Pero para po mapayagan po nating makapag-operate po sila nang sa ganoon ay makapasok na rin iyong kanilang mga manggagawa at may kita na rin po sila at sahod, iyon po ang ginawa po nating resolution – sinuportahan po natin iyon.”
Moreover, the DOLE official said being not vaccinated against COVID-19 is not an adequate reason to fire or suspend the employee. He added that the requirement of a vaccination card as part of hiring requirements is also not allowed.
“Well, alam ninyo po, mayroon po tayo ngayong bagong batas at nakapaloob po doon sa Section 12 po noong bagong batas na iyon, 11525, ito po ‘yung patungkol sa batas natin sa pagbabakuna – ipinagbabawal po na i-require iyong vaccination card para po makapaghanap ng bagong trabaho o makahanap o lumipat sa bagong trabaho. Bawal po iyon, very expressed in the law na ito ay ipinagbabawal.” -rir
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