A group of workers has appealed for help to the Inter-Agency Task Force to vaccinate employees who want to work again.
In Balitaan in Manila Sunday morning, Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), said that many are still unemployed or underemployed because they are still not vaccinated.
Some companies do not admit unvaccinated employees or do not accept job applicants who have not been vaccinated.
According to Tanjusay, local governments in the provinces are still struggling with the vaccination rollout.
“Sa aming assessment yung mga local government units sa local provinces especially around Metro Manila ay hindi masyadong effective sa pag-roll out ng vaccination. May mga LGU na gumagamit ng computer, QR code pero sa katabing probinsya mano-mano pa rin. Hindi pantay-pantay ang access ng manggagawa sa bakuna,” he explained.
The ALU-TUCP hopes that the rollout of mass vaccination will go smoothly from November 29 to December 1, where 15 million Filipinos are targeted to be vaccinated, including workers.
“Kinatatakot ng TUCP ay magkaroon ng another wave ng coronavirus disease, yung mga mutations at variants na napakadelikado. Kaya dapat preparado at bakunado ang mga manggagawa. Kung magkaroon ng another serious wave di namin alam paano tayo makakaahon dahil walang pera ang gobyerno, walang pang ayuda,” said Tanjusay.
Vaccinate those who want to work again – labor group
Meanwhile, Tanjusay also said that many workers are asking for their help regarding vaccination concerns due to hypertension or medical conditions such as allergies. It is hoped that exemption will be given to workers who cannot be vaccinated.
“We are looking forward na sa guidelines na inilabas ng gobyerno sa mass vaccination next week, we expect na magkakaroon ng exemption. Maglagay sila ng exemption sa mga manggagawa na medically hindi talaga pwedeng bakunahan dahil magkakaroon ng komplikasyon kapag sila ay nagpabakuna,” he said.
He also said that they had not seen the need to demand an increase in workers’ wages, especially the minimum wage earners, this year. However, they will study it next year.
He said the ability of the economy and companies to provide wage increases is a significant factor.
Today, the economy continues to recover from losses caused by lockdowns due to the pandemic.
“Depende yan sa lagay ng ating ekonomiya. Kasabay din kasi niyan ang ating pag-aaral ng wage boards, 1989 pa kasi yung ating regional wage boards, marami nang nagbago sa ating panahon, sa ating teknolohiya at buhay ng ating mga manggagawa kaya kasabay naming tinitignan yan kung paano ba natin mapaganda ang ating wage boards dito sa ating bansa. Tinitignan namin diyan yung idea o prinsipyo na capacity to pay, capacity to provide the increase in wages,” he said.
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