PEZA asks IATF to put economic zone workers in A4 vaccine priority

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) formally requested the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to reclassify economic zone workers, particularly those in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and export-oriented sectors, as part of the A4 priority group for COVID-19 vaccination.

PEZA Director General Charito B. Plaza emphasized that these workers are considered frontline personnel who have maintained operations even during the strictest lockdowns to support the global supply chain.

PEZA locators, which include outsourcing and export-oriented firms, have been allowed to operate at a limited capacity amid the current lockdown to cushion the continuing adverse impact of COVID-19 on the economy.

PEZA zones have reported that 90 percent or a total of 2,701 companies are already operating nationwide, with 1,193,813 employees working under various work schemes even during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from April 12 to 16.

PEZA is also actively assisting companies within economic zones in procuring vaccines for their employees.

The initiative aims to contribute to the attainment of herd immunity, which PEZA believes will expedite the country's full economic reopening and transition to the new normal.