ILOILO City – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 6 enjoined employers and workers to maintain cleanliness in the workplace, make available disinfectants and sanitizers, and avoid direct exposure to animals, environments and objects possibly carrying the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Following the first confirmed case of 2019-nCoV in the country, DOLE’s central office issued a safety and health advisory to prevent and control the risk of infection in workplaces.
Labor Advisory No. 4 directs employers and establishments to provide information about the 2019-nCoV to their workers, determine the needed adjustment in work schemes, and take immediate precautionary measures, according to DOLE Region 6 director Cyril Ticao.
DOLE tasked employers to monitor the health of their workers particularly those with fever and flu symptoms and those who have traveled to or worked in countries affected with the 2019-nCoV.
The DOLE advisory also provided measures to guide employers for care of workers suspected as having 2019-nCoV, such as:
* providing the worker with a facemask
* isolating the affected worker in a separate well-ventilated room
* referring the victim to the company health care provider or nearest local health center or hospital
* reporting the case to the health department, and
* decontaminating the work area with appropriate disinfectant
Ticao said the advisory further directed employers to establish a screening program in accordance with the guidelines set by the Department of Health.
Workers in these workplaces are also reminded to take extra precautionary measures which include strict hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) while at work, said Ticao.
As for leave of absence of affected workers, the employer or establishment may charge the worker’s absence to his or her annual sick or vacation leave as provided for in their company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement.
The employer or establishment, with the concurrence of the workers, may also adopt other arrangements to compensate for the worker’s leave of absence.
In terms of social security benefits, the advisory provides that infected workers and their dependents may avail of PhilHealth hospital benefits on top of the existing company health care benefits and are entitled to claim sickness benefits under the Social Security System and employees’ compensation benefits under Presidential Decree 626, or Employees Compensation Law.
In the event that the worker is not qualified to avail himself of these social security benefits due to the fault of the employer, the employer shall shoulder all the medical expenses until full recovery, according to DOLE. (With a report from DOLE-6 and the Philippine News Agency/PN)
