Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12) — The Department of Labor and Employment’s newly released guidelines stated that employers in the private sector are not allowed to charge their employees for their vaccination programs.
The department said companies may procure vaccines and set up their own vaccination policies as well as seek assistance from government agencies. However, the expenses should not come from their workers’ pockets.
“No cost of vaccination in the workplace shall be charged against or passed on, directly or indirectly, to employees,” stated Labor Advisory No. 03 Series of 2021.
The agency also prohibited discrimination or termination against employees who refused to get vaccinated. Companies are not allowed to deny tenure, promotion, training, pay and other benefits to these workers.
“No vaccine, no work policy shall not be allowed,” added the advisory.
The private sector, through tripartite agreements with manufacturers and local government units, was able to secure 17 million doses of vaccines from UK-Swede Oxford/AstraZeneca. Of this number, 2.6 million doses are expected to arrive in the country in May to June — half will be used by businesses, while the other half will be donated to the government for the immunization of frontliners.
