Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III wants overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and minimum wage earners placed higher in the list of beneficiaries of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
The labor chief proposed that OFWs and minimum wage earners be placed at level 5 or 6 in the list instead of 10 or 11.
"I am proposing that they be at either level 5 or 6. Of course they will have to come after the health frontliners, soldiers, and the vulnerable sector," said Bello in a virtual forum on Monday.
He said OFWs deserve to be prioritized as they are considered the country's "modern-day heroes" while minimum wage earners are movers of the economy.
"They should be treated as our modern day heroes," said Bello.
"The minimum wage earners are movers of the economy that's why we should maintain their health," he added.
Bello said he already proposed the matter to the IATF.
"I proposed it to the IATF. It’s already being studied. I hope they will consider because their contribution to the economt is really big," he said.
Based on the IATF-EID list, prioritized to receive COVID-19 vaccines are health workers, senior citizens, indigent population, uniformed personnel, school workers, government workers and OFWs among others.