AILING workers are now protected under the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Davao City, which was amended by the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) Tuesday, July 31.
The amended ordinance was approved on third and final reading during the regular session on July 31.
It declares as unlawful the acts and conduct of discrimination based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, and religious affiliation or beliefs.
The amended ordinance also lists discrimination based on health status.
The Joint Committee Report of the Committee on Rules and Privileges and Civil, Political and Human Rights on Item Nos. 1155 and 1181 was presented by Councilor Villafuerte, who recommended amendments to Ordinance No.0417-12, series of 2012.
Under Section III, definition of terms, health status is defined as a person's general condition of the body or when health is considered in terms of a person's body structure and function and the presence or absence of disease or signs, their symptoms and what they can and cannot do, i.e., the extent to which the conditions affects the person's normal life.
It can be considered as a violation if an applicant is denied employment because of his or her health status or "by denying or limiting access to employee opportunities for promotion, transfer, training, schooling or to any other benefit which are otherwise granted to other employees."
"By refusing employment to a job applicant or imposing onerous or additional terms or conditions which are not imposed on another similarity situated or circumstance, on the basis of ethnic origin, religious affiliation or belief, sec, gender identity, sexual orientation, descent, race, color of the skin or health status," the ordinance read.
For instance, if employers would not hire the applicants on the basis of their health status, they will be facing penalty. This is expected to benefit those individuals who have Hepatitis B.
Aside from that, discrimination is also committed "by refusing or failing to accept any person for admission as student in any public or private educational and or vocational institutions or by subjecting said person to terms and conditions for his acceptance in the said institution."
Based on the resolution No. 02283-18 enacting an ordinance amending No. 0417-12, series of 2012, otherwise known as the "Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Davao City, it will include concerned agencies in the membership such as Davao City Health Office (CHO), LGBTQ++ and the Intergrated Gender Development Division (IGDD) in the Anti-Discrimination Mediation and Conciliation Board.