DOLE to workers: Get COVID-19 jabs to restore economy

The Department of Labor and Employment encouraged more workers to get COVID-19 vaccines once it is available in the country so that they will become ready to help restore the economy.

In a press conference at the simultaneous symbolic vaccination for workers under the Priority Group A4 in Taguig City, DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez reiterated that the key to restore more jobs is by keeping the workplaces safe through the vaccination of every employee.

“Nakita po namin sa kagawaran na although tumataas na ang vaccine confidence ng mga manggagawa, medyo mababa pa rin ito” (While workers' vaccine confidence is increasing, but it's still too low to have them back to workplaces), Benavidez said.

While he acknowledged the importance of medical frontliners, the Labor official also highlighted the need to protect essential workers.

“Naririnig namin mismo ang kanilang mga hinaing. Araw-araw lumalapit sila sa amin kailangan nila makabalik sa trabaho. Ang susi para makabalik sila sa trabaho e gawing ligtas ang mga pagawaan. Mabakunahan po natin ang mga manggagawa”(We hear their woes. They are asking for our help every day. The key to get their works back is to make our workplaces safe and vaccinate our workers), Benavidez said.

Meanwhile, testing czar Vince Dizon, in the same press conference, cited a case of one vaccine recipient, a seafarer, and cannot go back to his work abroad as COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement.

Dizon said more OFWs and seafarers can get more job opportunities abroad once they get the COVID-19 jab.

The Philippine government will vaccinate 5,000 minimum wage earners and overseas Filipino workers under priority group A4 in observance of International Workers’ Day.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), the vaccination sites are located at the Palacio de Maynila along Roxas Boulevard in the City of Manila, Lakeshore Hub in Taguig City and Quezon City Covered Walk along Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City.

A master list of vaccine recipients was prepared by DOLE.

Earlier, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the list of sectors included in the Priority Group A4 of the government’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.

The complete list of Priority Group A4 includes:

• commuter transport (land, air, and sea), including logistics
• public and private wet and dry market vendors
• frontline workers in groceries, supermarkets, delivery services
• workers in manufacturing for food, beverage, medical and pharmaceutical products
• frontline workers in food retail, including food service delivery
• frontline workers in private and government financial services
• frontline workers in hotels and accommodation establishments
• priests, rabbis, imams, and other religious leaders
• security guards/ personnel assigned in offices, agencies, and organizations identified in the list of priority industries/sectors
• frontline workers in private and government news media
• customer-facing personnel of telecoms, cable and internet service providers, electricity distribution and water distribution utilities
• frontline personnel in basic education and higher education institutions and agencies
• overseas Filipino workers, including those scheduled for deployment within two months
• frontline workers in law/justice, security, and social protection sectors
• frontline government workers engaged in the operations of government transport system, quarantine inspection; worker safety inspection and other COVID-19 response activities
• frontline government workers in charge of tax collection, assessment of businesses for incentives, election, national ID, data collection personnel
• diplomatic community and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) personnel in consular operations
• Department of Public Works and Highways personnel in charge of monitoring government infrastructure projects

So far, the government is vaccinating the health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities. —LBG, GMA News