THE Department of Health (DOH) reiterated Thursday, August 5, that the "no vaccine, no work policy" is not allowed.

In an advisory posted on its Facebook page, the DOH said that based on Advisory 3, Series of 2021 of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), all employers may only encourage their employees to get vaccinated.

"Any employee who chooses not to get vaccinated or fails to get vaccinated shall not be discriminated against in terms of employment," the DOLE advisory stated.

The DOH also cited Republic Act 11525, which states that vaccine cards shall not be considered an additional requirement for employment purposes.

In March this year, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that the reported “no vaccine, no work” policy in some companies is illegal, stressing that it can be considered discriminatory since there is limited supply of vaccines.

Earlier, the Associated Labor Union (ALU) said it has received reports from workers in the agriculture, manufacturing and services (hotels, restaurants and call centers) sector that their employers were requiring them to get vaccinated.

ALU-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said they will help the workers file complaints against their employers who would implement the no vaccine, no work policy. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)