Mandatory vaccination urged for frontline workers in the Philippines

The Philippines’ Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) has been urged to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for frontline workers and those involved in labour-intensive industries to aid in the safe reopening of the economy. 

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion is urging DOLE to require vaccination for front-facing workers, such as those in the hospitality, tourism, restaurants, retail and personal care sectors, and workers involved in labour-intensive work like construction, automotive, wearables and manufacturing, electronics and semiconductors, and business process outsourcing, reports Philstar Global. 

“We must protect the unvaccinated and protect all workers and jobs at all costs. If we require fully vaccinated customers in our businesses, the more reason we need to require labour-intensive workers and economic frontliners to be fully vaccinated too,” he said. 

In response, labour secretary Silvestre Bello III has said that the labour department will be studying the proposal. 

READ: Eateries, spas cannot sack unvaccinated staff in the Philippines

“Why should we let the unvaccinated put at risk everything we have worked hard for? There are vaccinated people who wish to resume their normal activities and they have done their part. We should protect them and not let the sacrifices go to waste by backsliding into another surge,” said Concepcion.