The Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) earlier this week encouraged private-sector organisations to create work-from-home (WFH) arrangements as COVID-19 instances increased in the Philippines.
According to DOLE Labour Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, this will help decrease the spread of the virus in the workplace and protect employees’ families from catching it. The Telecommuting Act would allow for the introduction of WFH agreements.
“Of course, face-to-face work would be preferable,” Laguesma remarked. “We just have to balance.”
According to the Labour Secretary, the government is not currently looking into resuming antigen testing in the workplace, instead encouraging organisations and people to test themselves on their own initiative.
Meanwhile, Benjo Benavidez, the DOLE’s Labour Undersecretary, has notified that a labour advisory addressing WFH arrangements has been released. He described this as a means for both employers and employees to be aware of their rights and obligations under managerial discretion. So yet, no reports of COVID-19 instances at workplaces have been received, according to Benavidez.
“They are required to report injuries and illnesses in a given period under Occupational Safety and Health law.” We anticipate an increase due to the increased mobility during the holidays,” he said.
