Owners of businesses cannot turn down the employment of persons who remain unvaccinated against COVID-19, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said on Wednesday, Oct. 20.
Guevarra warned against violations of Section 12 of Republic Act No. 115251, the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.
He said that under RA 115251, “the vaccine cards shall not be considered as an additional mandatory requirement for educational, employment, and other similar government transaction purposes.”
He pointed out the provision in the law after several business groups recommended the employment only of persons who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
“Note also that the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) has already issued its policy guidelines on some of these matters,” Guevarra stressed.
However, he said, the government is not closing its doors to the proposal of the business groups.
“We may take this up at the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases),” he said.