Human Dignity and Human Rights Violations
“No vaccine, no salary.” This is a scheme being imposed by some employers to workers who are yet to be inoculated against the virus. Employees have to present their vaccine card in order to get their respective salary. Such scheme, however, is “illegal” let alone “inhuman” as it violates the law (particularly the labor code) and the human dignity and right to wage earned. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines had already condemned such reports and called out the Department of Labor and Employment for response and action.*
Such policy set by companies blatantly discriminates against those who do not have a choice to act upon the demand. The workers can’t be blamed for the slow vaccine roll-out of the government. Even if these workers do not want to be vaccinated, there shall still be no reason to withhold their regular salary because there is yet to be a mandatory policy regarding vaccination. They earned their wages after rendering labor so it must be given. Companies must abide by the law and the law shall be faithfully implemented for its purpose of securing a human right, thus respecting human dignity.
Conversely, in order to resolve the cause and effects of the pandemic, the government shall address the health crisis above all accordingly so other sectors – economy, education, etc. – do not have to suffer the impact which might have led companies to impose such inconsiderate policy. Have a faster vaccine roll-out; procure more resources; provide support to Filipino workers; monitor employers. The issue is not ‘vaccine hesitancy’ but ‘vaccine un/availability’. The government knows it as it does not see the need for mandatory vaccination. People are just waiting to be vaccinated, so the government has to remind all concerned sectors to follow the rule of law, conduct proactive measures to ensure the general quality of life amidst the crisis, and institute reactive measures to sanction violators.
Even before the pandemic, the government has proven itself unhelpful to the plight of its people. Its violent campaign against drug use or the so-called ‘war on drugs’ ultimately violates fundamental human rights (due process, privacy, liberty, etc.) that now has a lasting negative effect on Filipino society and culture, if not globally.** Recently, local governments have adopted ‘drug war’ protocols to activists in the form of “tokhang, a Visayan word meaning “to knock and plead,” police and local authorities visit the homes or offices of activists they accuse of supporting or “fronting” for the communist New People’s Army to “plead” with them to stop supporting the insurgency.”*** This policy is indeed dangerous as the prevalence of ‘red-tagging’ has costed the lives of activists whose advocacies center on respecting human rights. Leftist activists are not necessarily communist insurgents, but the government insists otherwise and still reinforces their indifference through such deadly policies.
Our constitution provides significant premises concerning our human rights. However, despite the sacred imposition, the Philippine government has failed to guarantee such. Now we are experiencing a conclusion: a culture of impunity and mockery to humanity. There is, without doubt, a struggle to fight for justice and dignity. We should not be helpless but persist in the struggle to uphold the law and above all our individual and collective human rights – not only to have a dignified personal life but a dignified society.
Will a policy recommendation be useful when the government disregards its own? Isn’t a revolution necessary to replace this government? When criticisms and dissent are suppressed, how can one trust a policy derived from authoritarianism disguised in a populist perspective such as the ‘othering’ of ‘drug addicts’ and ‘activists’ in society? How can a policy change a system already rotten at its core?
Still, I am one with the call to defend press freedom, better social services, and hold the government accountable for its crimes against Filipino people such as its incompetent and poor management of national crises, total disregard to human rights, and contempt to its own constitution and international laws.
* 'Inhuman': TUCP urges swift action on reported 'no vaccine, no salary' schemes | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/17/2134781/inhuman-tucp-urges-swift-action-reported-no-vaccine-no-salary-schemes
** ICC Authorizes Investigation Into Philippines' ‘War on Drugs’ (occrp.org) https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/15188-icc-authorizes-investigation-into-philippines-war-on-drugs
*** Philippines Adopts ‘Drug War’ Measures Against Activists | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org) https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/30/philippines-adopts-drug-war-measures-against-activists
Such policy set by companies blatantly discriminates against those who do not have a choice to act upon the demand. The workers can’t be blamed for the slow vaccine roll-out of the government. Even if these workers do not want to be vaccinated, there shall still be no reason to withhold their regular salary because there is yet to be a mandatory policy regarding vaccination. They earned their wages after rendering labor so it must be given. Companies must abide by the law and the law shall be faithfully implemented for its purpose of securing a human right, thus respecting human dignity.
Conversely, in order to resolve the cause and effects of the pandemic, the government shall address the health crisis above all accordingly so other sectors – economy, education, etc. – do not have to suffer the impact which might have led companies to impose such inconsiderate policy. Have a faster vaccine roll-out; procure more resources; provide support to Filipino workers; monitor employers. The issue is not ‘vaccine hesitancy’ but ‘vaccine un/availability’. The government knows it as it does not see the need for mandatory vaccination. People are just waiting to be vaccinated, so the government has to remind all concerned sectors to follow the rule of law, conduct proactive measures to ensure the general quality of life amidst the crisis, and institute reactive measures to sanction violators.
Even before the pandemic, the government has proven itself unhelpful to the plight of its people. Its violent campaign against drug use or the so-called ‘war on drugs’ ultimately violates fundamental human rights (due process, privacy, liberty, etc.) that now has a lasting negative effect on Filipino society and culture, if not globally.** Recently, local governments have adopted ‘drug war’ protocols to activists in the form of “tokhang, a Visayan word meaning “to knock and plead,” police and local authorities visit the homes or offices of activists they accuse of supporting or “fronting” for the communist New People’s Army to “plead” with them to stop supporting the insurgency.”*** This policy is indeed dangerous as the prevalence of ‘red-tagging’ has costed the lives of activists whose advocacies center on respecting human rights. Leftist activists are not necessarily communist insurgents, but the government insists otherwise and still reinforces their indifference through such deadly policies.
Our constitution provides significant premises concerning our human rights. However, despite the sacred imposition, the Philippine government has failed to guarantee such. Now we are experiencing a conclusion: a culture of impunity and mockery to humanity. There is, without doubt, a struggle to fight for justice and dignity. We should not be helpless but persist in the struggle to uphold the law and above all our individual and collective human rights – not only to have a dignified personal life but a dignified society.
Will a policy recommendation be useful when the government disregards its own? Isn’t a revolution necessary to replace this government? When criticisms and dissent are suppressed, how can one trust a policy derived from authoritarianism disguised in a populist perspective such as the ‘othering’ of ‘drug addicts’ and ‘activists’ in society? How can a policy change a system already rotten at its core?
Still, I am one with the call to defend press freedom, better social services, and hold the government accountable for its crimes against Filipino people such as its incompetent and poor management of national crises, total disregard to human rights, and contempt to its own constitution and international laws.
17 October 2021
National Service Training Program
MODULE: Human Rights and Human Dignity
* 'Inhuman': TUCP urges swift action on reported 'no vaccine, no salary' schemes | Philstar.com https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/17/2134781/inhuman-tucp-urges-swift-action-reported-no-vaccine-no-salary-schemes
** ICC Authorizes Investigation Into Philippines' ‘War on Drugs’ (occrp.org) https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/15188-icc-authorizes-investigation-into-philippines-war-on-drugs
*** Philippines Adopts ‘Drug War’ Measures Against Activists | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org) https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/30/philippines-adopts-drug-war-measures-against-activists
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