Private sector workers should receive free vaccinations in the Philippines
- Claire Lee
No workers should be charged for their vaccination, highlighted the Philippine government in a guideline for the private sector seeking to vaccinate their staff against COVID-19.
“No cost of vaccination in the workplace shall be charged against or passed on, directly or indirectly to the employees,” according to the advisory by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
“Any employee who refuses or fails to be vaccinated shall not be discriminated against in the terms of tenure, promotion, training, pay, and other benefits, among others, or terminated from employment,” DOLE added.
Workers are, however, encouraged to get their vaccinations, Labour Undersecretary Maria Teresita Cucueco said, according to ABS-CBN News.
So far, the government has prioritised senior citizens and frontliners to receive their vaccinations first. The country is lagging behind its Asian neighbours, and started its vaccination drive on March 1, with 600,000 Sinovac shots donated by China.
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The private sector, the national government and select local government units inked a deal with AstraZeneca in January to procure vaccines, estimated to arrive between May and September.
By the end of this year, the government aims to inoculate 50 million to 70 million citizens.
