THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is urging employers in the private sector to give additional paid leaves and flexible work arrangement options for workers who are in need of medical attention due to mental health.
Labor Advisory No. 19-2023 said the employers could give paid leave benefits on top of current leave benefits under the company policy, collective bargaining agreement, the Labor Code of the Philippines, and special laws.
It said flexible work arrangements, re-scheduling of work hours, and adoption of other work arrangements, including telecommuting, may also be offered to workers.
DOLE said the additional benefits is apart from the shared responsibility of employers and employees to ensure the effective implementation of a mental health policy and program in the workplace.
It said employers must also ensure that employees are provided with effective access to mental health and self-care services, such as those under the Lusog-Isip application, which can be accessed through https://selfhelp.cbdr.org.ph/ and https://lusog-isip.doh.gov.ph/.
DOLE said employers must refer employees requiring mental health services to facilities of DOH-retained hospitals or the rural health units for consultation, screening, diagnosis, medication, treatment, and provision of psychosocial support.
Employees requiring further examination relative to their mental health needs, DOLE said, must also be given access to healthcare services and facilities, such as those provided by the PhilHealth Konsulta Package.
DOLE also said employees requiring immediate mental health services may access the National Mental Health Crisis hotline through the Luzon-wide landline toll-free: 1553; Globe/TM Subscribers: 09663514518, 09178998727, and 0917899USAP; and Smart/Sun/TNT Subscribers: 09086392672.
The Department said all private sector employers must submit to the DOLE regional/provincial/field office that has jurisdiction over the workplace the annual medical report form indicating the number of cases handled or referred to providers, if any.
