Companies in the Philippines call for mandatory vaccinations

This goes against an earlier circular released by the Department of Labour and Employment, which called “no vaccine, no work” policies discriminatory.
By: | August 24, 2021
Topics: Employee Experience | Health and Wellness | News | Philippines

Business leaders in the Philippines are asking the government to approve mandatory vaccinations before allowing workers to go back to work. 

“The business sector has been wanting to mandate the vaccination [for] all employees,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Acting President Edgardo G. Lacson said at an online forum, reports BusinessWorld.

“I think that is important for [the Department of Labour and Employment] (DOLE) to recognize that we have that authority — that is a management prerogative,” he said, adding that “we want to protect not only other people; we want to protect people from themselves.”

DOLE had earlier issued a circular against “no vaccine, no work” policies, saying that the practice discriminates against workers who do not want to take their Covid-19 vaccinations. It also urged private sector workers to report employers who are implementing such a policy. 

READ: “No vaccine, no work” policy examined in the Philippines

“The private sector has its own ways of persuading their employees. [There is] inconvenience, especially if you pinpoint that there will be less mobility eventually for the unvaccinated,” said Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion III. 

“I think it’s required — if you really want to achieve herd immunity… everybody has to be vaccinated,” he added.