The Department of Labor and Employment has yet to receive complaints regarding the ‘no vaccine, no work’ policy allegedly being implemented by some companies.
“We have not yet received a formal complaint. What we get are reports, but no companies are named,” Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said in a Laging Handa briefing yesterday.
Benavidez, however, added that they are now conducting their own investigations on these reports.
“We have our own investigation, in addition to inspection, to find out who these companies are and where they are for them to be inspected,” Benavidez said.
He added that any employee who has been fired or suspended for not being vaccinated can file a complaint.
“But if the unvaccinated person is not admitted, his salary will continue. If he is removed or suspended, he can file a complaint for illegal suspension or illegal termination,” he added.
Benavidez added that inspections of companies for their compliance with health and safety standards and health protocols and vaccination at work will continue.
“The inspection will continue; 84,000 establishments are the target this year for inspection to ensure that they comply with occupational health and safety standards and health protocols and vaccination. There are no penalties contained in the labor advisory,” he said.
The DOLE earlier warned companies that vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 is not mandatory for workers.
It added that implementing a ‘no vaccine, no work’ policy has no legal basis.*PNA
