The call for more aggressive vaccination against COVID-19 continues in the workers’ sector, with the highest number of COVID-19 cases.
According to the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the supply of vaccines should be focused on workers because vaccine hesitancy is not a problem in this sector.
“Sila na nga ‘yong nangungulit [na magpabakuna]… kulang ‘yong vaccine. So ‘yon ang asikasuhin sana natin, kalimutan na ‘yong pananakot,” said ECOP President Sergio Ortiz-Luis.
According to the Department of Health, the most affected by COVID-19 in the Philippines are in the age group of 25 to 29, followed by 30 to 34, 20 to 24, 35 to 39, and 40 to 44. These are the ages part of the labor force.
More than 3 million A4 or economic frontliners were given the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 1.7 were fully vaccinated.
But this is only a small percentage compared to the total number of workers, which stands at 45 million, according to the June 2021 Labor Force Survey.
Meanwhile, with the monitoring of Defend Jobs Philippines and other labor groups, it turns out that the contamination of COVID-19 in offices is still a problem.
One of the reasons is the fear of workers losing their wages when they show symptoms.
ECOP calls for more aggressive vaccination among workers
“May mga report tayo na ‘yong mga manggagawa natin, kahit medyo may nararamdaman ay hindi nila sinsasabi kasi takot sila sa 14-day quarantine na wala silang kita,” said Defend Jobs spokesperson Christian Lloyd Magsoy.
“It is an illegal policy, especially so na kulang pa tayo ng supply ng vaccine, so logic even demands na wag muna tayong magpilit,” said DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
In a Labor advisory released in March, a worker who refuses to be vaccinated is clearly prohibited from being fired or deprived of wages, benefits, and other rights.
Aside from workers in the private sector, some government workers are also reportedly experiencing the “no vaccine no work” policy.
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