PNP CHIEF Gen. Archie Gamboa on Thursday called on various labor groups to call off plans to hold mass actions to celebrate Labor Day today, saying it will defeat the purpose of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that aims to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Gamboa said mass action geared to air sentiments against the government can be done at a later date or once the situation normalizes.
He said, however, that the PNP has prepared a countermeasure in case labor groups insist on holding mass actions today but did not give details.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Task Force Covid Shield commander, also issued the same appeal and told labor groups to instead focus on coming up with health protection-related strategic plans to help workers prepare themselves under the “new normal” situation once ECQ is lifted.
“We fully understand that it is the labor sector which was severely affected by the government’s strict measures against coronavirus infection. Every day, we see news reports and social media posts about how the quarantine affected the life of the ordinary workers and their family because their workplaces were forced to either limit or shut down the business operations,” Eleazar said.
“But this is not the time to take matters to the streets; in fact, it could only worsen the situation in terms of the health of our workers. So we appeal to the labor groups to focus their effort in helping the workers what to do and what to expect once the opportunity to work would be available again,” he added.
Thousands of workers go to the streets to air their demands and grievances to mark Labor Day in protests that turned bloody in the past.
The Labor department has cancelled job fairs usually held during Labor Day celebration due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the current situation, Eleazar said it would only expose the workers and their families to the risk of being infected by the coronavirus if they hold any protest action.
Eleazar also expressed gratitude to workers who continue to brave the threat of COVID-19 by continuously working to deliver basic goods and services.
“The dedication and determination showed by our workers under this situation once again proved the Filipino good values of tapang (bravery) and malasakit sa kapwa (compassion). Truly, the Filipino workers are world class,” Eleazar said.
LABOR DAY PAY RULES
The Labor Department issued pay rules for today’s celebration of Labor Day, a regular holiday, but allowed companies to defer their payment.
Based on Labor Advisory No. 15-2020, business establishments are allowed to either defer or be exempted from paying the holiday pay for May 1 due to the national health emergency brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In view of the existence of a national emergency arising from the COVID-19 situation, employers are allowed to defer payment of holiday pay on May 1, 2020 until such time that the present emergency situation has been abated and the normal operations of the establishment is in place,” the DOLE said.
“Establishments that have totally closed or ceased operation during the enhanced community quarantine period are exempted from the payment of the holiday pay under this Advisory,” it added.
The Labor Department reminded companies that under existing pay rules, if employees did not report for work, they are still entitled to100 percent of their salary for that day.
Employees who report for work shall be paid 200 percent of their regular salary for the first eight hours and an additional 30 percent of their hourly rate for overtime work. — With Gerard Naval
