Suspension of resolutions on mandatory vaccination for on-site workers sought

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on labor and employment is pushing for the suspension of implementing two resolutions concerning the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for onsite workers. 

During its online meeting on Wednesday, the committee moved to write a letter to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases requesting that the implementation of  Resolutions 148-B and 149 be suspended. 

“We will write a letter immediately to the chairman, to the co-chairs of the IATF that the recommendation of the committee of labor and employment is for them to suspend until further notice,” labor and employment committee chairperson Rep. Eric Pineda said. 

The call for suspension stemmed from complaints regarding mandatory vaccination. TUCP partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza also noted that the resolutions are “confusing.”

“Walang klarong presentation, we’re left guessing kung ano ba talaga ang interpretasyon ng dalawang resolusyon,” Mendoza said. 

“Kulang sa konsultasyon ito, it’s creating a lot of confusion,” he added. 

Under IATF Resolution No. 148-B, all establishments and employers in the public and private sector shall require their eligible employees who are tasked to do onsite work to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Eligible employees who remain to be unvaccinated may not be terminated solely by reason thereof. However, they shall be required to undergo RT-PCR tests regularly at their own expense for purposes of onsite work. Provided that, antigen tests may be resorted to when RT-PCR capacity is insufficient or not immediately available,”  the resolution states.

Meanwhile, IATF Resolution NO. 149 states that “all partially vaccinated employees in the public and private sector tasked to do onsite work need not undergo regular RT-PCR test at their own expense, as long as their second dose is not yet due pursuant to the interval prescribed for the brand of vaccine received as the first dose.”