OFWs, minimum wage earners sought to be prioritized by DOLE to receive COVID-19 vaccine

On Sunday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is seeking to include overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and minimum wage earners among those prioritized to be given COVID-19 vaccine. 

Photo credit: mb.com.ph

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that there are some 20 million minimum wage earners in the country. He said that OFWs are currently ranked 12th among those prioritized for the immunization program against COVID-19. 

Sa listing, parang number 12 lang kaya sumulat ako na kung maaari, ilagay man lamang sila na number 5 or number 6,

Bello said in an interview when asked if OFWs will also prioritized in the inoculation drive. 

Hindi lang ‘yung OFWs, pati ‘yung mga minimum wage earners kasi ‘yung mga workers natin, ito ‘yung mga vehicles of economy,

he added. 

Malacañang earlier said frontline health workers, senior citizens, indigent Filipinos, uniformed personnel and other vulnerable populations are among the priorities for the COVID-19 vaccination program.