COMPANIES may now use the Inter-Agency Task Force’s (IATF) resolution on alert level system as a legal basis to fire or withhold the salaries of their employees who are not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said on Thursday, October 21, 2021.
Bello said this is possible as the resolution, particularly on Alert Level 3, mandates that only companies or establishments with fully vaccinated employees may expand their operational capacities.
Under Alert Level 3, establishments are allowed to operate at 30 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and 50 percent outdoor venue capacity regardless of vaccination status, provided that all employees are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Because now there is an obligation on the part of the employer na dapat vaccinated ang mga empleyado niya, so he can require yung mga empleyado na magpabakuna because now, there is a legal basis,” Bello said in a television interview.
Under Alert Level 3 until the end of October are Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Siquijor, Davao City and Davao del Norte, while Batangas, Quezon Province, Lucena City, Bohol, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cebu Province, Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental are under Alert Level 2.
Negros Oriental and Davao Occidental have been placed under Alert Level 4, the strictest level.
Businesses that are allowed to operate under Alert Level 3 are restaurants and other food services, personal care services, gyms, spas and other leisure facilities, tourist attractions including galleries and museums, and entertainment venues, including indoor cinemas, karaoke hubs and concert halls.
Earlier, Bello said the “no vaccine, no work/pay” policy reportedly being implemented in Metro Manila is illegal. (SunStar Philippines)