Shakey’s to vaccinate all employees for free

Shakey's Pizza Asia Centures Inc. has committed to vaccinate all its employees from the COVID-19 for free, as the company has contracted some 20,000 doses through tripartite agreements.

The company on Monday said it has inked tripartite agreements with the Philippine government and the vaccine manufacturers to procure doses for all employees of its three brands — Shakey's Pizza, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, and R&B Milk Tea.

It said it will also make vaccine doses available for dependents of employees, as well as business partners including franchisees, service providers, and contractors.

"Health and safety will always remain our top priority. Our philosophy is that guests must know, feel, and see that they are safe. A crucial component of that is ensuring that our employees are safe and healthy as well," Shakey's President and Chief Executive Officer Vicente Gregorio said in an emailed statement.

Shakey's said it will also donate some 5,000 doses to the government through the Department of Health (DOH), which will be deployed following its allocation framework and prioritization plan.

The company ended 2020 with a net loss of P247 million, reflecting a reversal of its P862-million net income in 2019. The lockdowns forced the temporary closure of 91% of its store network at the end of March.

Shares in Shakey's opened Monday at P7.22 apiece, up from last Friday's finish of P7.21. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/RSJ, GMA News