BUSINESS establishments that do not comply with government protocols in the workplace that ensures the protection of their workers against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be sanctioned and fined, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) warned yesterday.
In a televised press briefing, Labor Assistant Secretary Teresita Cucueco said that penalties are provided under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) law.
“If they will still willfully violate, it has a corresponding penalty as provided under Republic Act 11058 or the OSH Law,” said Cucueco, adding: “Because this is safety and health, we have this law providing the penalty against a company that willfully violates the law.”
Under the OSH Law, an administrative fine not exceeding P100,000 per day shall be imposed against the company until the violation is corrected.
Cucueco said the DOLE has been receiving reports of virus transmission happening in workplaces due to the absence of company guidelines or poor observance of health protocols among personnel.
“We know that there are many cases happening in workplaces as the companies are doing testing and they are able to identify positive cases,” said the official.
Cucueco said the DOLE has deployed labor inspectors to conduct random checks on the compliance of business establishments to existing COVID-19 safety protocols.
“DOLE has deployed its inspectors who are visiting workplaces, interviewing employees, and are using our guidelines as checklist for compliance,” she said.
Still, DOLE stressed that penalizing companies over non-compliance is not their priority at the moment.
“Our priority is to help and support companies in being able to comply because we know there are companies that are having difficulties complying,” she said.
“We can provide technical assistance to everyone as long as there is proper coordination between the government and the private sector. We will do that so that they can comply,” added Cucueco.
Earlier this month, the DOLE and the Department of Trade and Industry issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04 detailing additional guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces.
Among the provisions include the mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields and providing disinfection materials and supplies in strategic areas in workplaces, including the provision of company shuttle services for the employees.
It also provides that sick leave benefits, medical insurance coverage, including supplemental pay allowance, for COVID-19 RT-PCR test-confirmed employees or close contacts who are made to undergo a 14-day quarantine must also be provided to workers.
