Makabayan bloc seeks probe into alleged ‘no vaccine, no salary’ policy

The House Makabayan bloc is seeking an inquiry into the alleged "no vaccine, no salary" policy that is reportedly being enforced by a certain company in Metro Manila.

The bloc filed House Resolution 2309 urging the House committee on labor and employment to investigate, in aid of legislation, the reported illegal enforcement of the "no vaccine, no pay" scheme.

"It is an unfair and unjust policy for employers to impose the 'no vaccine, no pay policy' and for the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) to tolerate such reported violations on workers' rights, especially when one of the primary reasons cited by the Department of Health (DOH) for the Philippines' low rank in COVID-19 resiliency is caused by low rate of vaccination and availability of vaccines," the resolution read.

"These reports of a 'no vaccine, no salary' scheme imposed by some employers on their unvaccinated employees, like requiring them to first present their vaccination cards before receiving their salary, are clearly discriminatory, illegal and highly condemnable," it added.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate said if this scheme is true, charges against the companies should be filed.

It was Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) spokesperson Alan Tanjusay who disclosed about the said policy as a group of employees of a company in the National Capital Region informed them about it.

Tanjusay urged DOLE to issue a labor advisory warning employers against implementing such a policy.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, meanwhile, branded as "illegal" the policy of withholding the salary of employees who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19.

"Bawal yan. Labag sa batas nga 'yan [That’s prohibited under the law]. You cannot withhold the salary of the employee, of the worker without legal basis," he said. "Yung hindi pagbabakuna hindi legal basis yun. Bawal na bawal yung ganyang policy [Not getting vaccinated is not a legal basis. That is strictly prohibited]." 

The Department of Health has said being vaccinated against COVID-19 is not a requirement for workers to receive their salaries.

Some senators also condemned the supposed policy, saying that employers should instead incentivize their employees to be encouraged in getting COVID-19 vaccines. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News