Apparel exporters want workers included in COVID-19 vax priority list

(FILE) Workers, who opted to continue working despite the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), rush making Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) under the program of Philippines’ Vice-president Leni Robredo, for distribution to frontline workers in different hospitals in the country at a factory in Taytay town, Rizal province, east of Manila on April 24, 2020. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — A group of garment exporters is seeking the inclusion of its workers in the government’s vaccination priority, as new COVID-19 infections are recorded among employees weekly.

During Wednesday’s Senate hearing on government programs for pandemic-hit industries, Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP) Executive Director Marites Agoncillo appealed that export industry workers be classified under the A4 vaccination subgroup of the government.

“Our group has been very upfront with the government with this to include us in the immediate vaccination sub-level group A4. With this, it would solve the problem of the cost of doing business during the pandemic,” Agoncillo said.

“The cost of the shuttle [for employees] alone is killing us already so if we are vaccinated, the people, we cannot work from home. We really need this,” she added.

According to her, factories under the industry usually have 1,500 to 2,000 workers.

“The infections [happen] every week. We get it…It’s just too scary,” she added.

At present, only workers in manufacturing for food, beverage, medical and pharmaceutical products are included under the A4 subgroup.

/MUF