DoLE pushes free tests for workers

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) on Sunday pushed the implementation of new health protocols that include free testing of workers for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said Joint Memorandum Circular 20-04 signed by the Labor department and the Department of Trade and Industry provides supplemental guidelines on the prevention and control of Covid-19 cases in workplaces. It took effect on Saturday.

Under the circular, workers in the hospitality and tourism sectors, manufacturing companies, frontline workers and other priority employees will be required to undergo regular reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in workplaces.

Bello said the Covid-19 test must be at no cost to the employees.

“This is so far the most comprehensive set of guidelines for the safety and protection of workers and employees in workplaces. The strict observance of these health protocols will make a big difference in our long-drawn battle to defeat Covid-19 and ensure the productivity of the Filipino workforce,” he stressed.

Frontline and economic priority workers, or those who work in high priority sectors must be tested once every quarter.

The guidelines cover workers in tourist zones, local manufacturing companies, transport and logistics, food retail, education, financial services, non-food retail services, public markets, construction, water supply, sewerage, and waste management companies and mass media.

But employees in the hospitality and tourism sectors in El Nido, Boracay, Coron, Panglao, Siargao and other tourist zones identified by the Department of Tourism should to undergo Covid testing once a month.

Workers in manufacturing companies and public service providers in economic zones located within Special Concern Areas, must be tested once every quarter.

The circular mandates the wearing of face mask and face shield, providing of disinfection materials and supplies in strategic areas in workplaces, including company shuttle services,

Sick leave benefits, medical insurance coverage, including supplemental pay allowance must also be provided for workers and employees who tested positive for Covid-19 as they undergo a 14-day quarantine.

Masks with a vent are prohibited under the joint memorandum circular, while face shields must cover the entire face. Cloth masks with an additional filter such as tissue paper or similar material may be used as long as they are clean and washed daily.

Bello said large and medium-sized private establishments, or those with total assets above P15 million, are enjoined to provide shuttle services to their employees.

Meanwhile, there should be adequate ventilation in workplaces. Employers were encouraged to install exhaust fans and air filtration devices. Windows of shuttle service must be opened at least three inches while in transit.

To properly manage asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, the joint guidelines require employers to ensure that employees, regardless of work arrangements, have access to telemedicine services. Large and medium private establishments were highly encouraged to provide their telemedicine services in the absence of a health maintenance organization.

“We encourage large and medium private establishments or those with multiple tenants, to designate an isolation area of one room for every 200 employees, which shall be other than the company clinic,” Bello said.

Businesses unable to establish an isolation area may make arrangements with a temporary treatment and monitoring facility nearby or with the barangay or local government unit. Malls and buildings must have at least one isolation area near the entrance.

Source: TheManila Times