MANILA, Philippines — Employers who offer COVID-19 vaccinations to their employees should not make the workers pay for the shots, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In an advisory on Friday, the Dole said COVID-19 vaccination should not be made mandatory and those who refuse to be vaccinated should not be discriminated against.
The DOLE also said that workers should not be made to shoulder the cost of the vaccines.
“No cost of vaccination in the workplace shall be charged against or passed on, whether directly or indirectly, to the employees,” the advisory said.
Teresita Cucueco, assistant secretary of the DOLE, said workers cannot be terminated, refused promotion or prohibited from entering the workplace just because they do not want to be vaccinated. Several businesses are procuring their own vaccine supply for their workers in coordination with the national government. —Leila B. Salaverria