BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
The General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), a local labor rights group based in Negros Occidental, is against the proposal being pushed by individuals from both the government and private sector to impose a “no vaccination, no work” policy.
GAWA secretary general Wennie Sancho said an irritating sense of confusion and discouragement is now boiling up among the labor sector on the said proposal.
Sancho said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III already denied the circulating reports, although he said there should be an official government confirmation in order to allay the fears of the workers.
“Labor is already apprehensive on the intervention of the government by reducing the number of holidays resulting in the diminution of their wage and wage-related benefits,” Sancho pointed out.
He said other labor advocates are also asking if the said measures are necessary and what is the rationale behind it.
“Now here comes the ‘hullabaloo’ on the no vaccination, no work policy, which would surely become a source of confusion and discouragement that would dampen the hope of the poor workers who could not avail of the free vaccination program of the government,” he said.
Sancho warned what some government officials and private sector are pushing will only fan the rising tide of discontent among the workers, and is urging the government to issue a categorical statement denying that there is no vaccination, no work policy being pushed.
He further added they are strongly condemning the said proposal, adding it is an “irresponsible speculation in the midst of our struggle towards economic recovery.”
Bello earlier stated that the policy is impractical, pointing out they will create a department order “for the guidance of both the employee and the employer.”
In an interview with DZMM Teleradyo yesterday morning, Bello said there is no such policy, and it is highly impractical as there is still not enough supply of vaccines.
He also said companies who may have procured their own vaccine supply should not give it to their employees at a cost, pointing out the government is the one shouldering all of the vaccine supplies./DGB, WDJ