Labor reacts positively

But the flu scare has not only affected the academic community.

In fact the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) had already formed a special task force to ensure implementation of disease prevention measures in workplaces nationwide.

At the same time, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque urged employers to grant additional leave with pay to workers suspected or had already been infected with the virus.

He said DOLE deemed it necessary to form the “Task Force on H1N1 in the Workplace” to enjoin employers nationwide to institute measures and prevent the spread of infection in workplaces.

Aside from monitoring the implementation of preventive measures, Roque said the task force would also work with labor and employers in improving the workplace to minimize the threat.

Roque said the DOLE’s Bureau of Working Condition (BWC) would also provide information on General Labor Standard, particularly on the treatment of leave of absence of an employee who is asked to stay home or is served quarantine order for reasons related to the virus.

The worker’s leave credits may be charged to his/her annual sick or vacation leave under the company policy or practice, or as stipulated in the CBA.

“If the worker’s leave credits have been used up, the employer could consider granting leave of absence without pay as the principle of no work no pay applies,” he said.

Roque, however, urged employers to exercise flexibility and compassion in granting additional leave with pay to workers suspected or already infected with the virus.

The labor chief said public and private health workers diagnosed with the disease may also avail of the P150,000 PhilHealth hospitalization benefit aside from company healthcare benefits.

Non-health workers such as managers, call center agents, teachers, clerks, etc., and their dependents who are diagnosed positive may avail of PhilHealth hospital benefits amounting to P75,000.

A worker who contracts the virus while in the performance of his/her work is also entitled to sickness benefits under SSS and employees compensation benefits under PD 626 or the ECC law.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) also responded positively by extending paid leaves to employees who manifest symptoms of the virus.

“I believe all companies would be willing to grant the employees who have A(H1N1) extended paid leaves,” ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis said.

He said it would be beneficial for employers to force workers with symptoms of the disease to go on leave, adding that under the law, workers who are given forced leaves must be properly compensated.

However, he clarified that this should not be abused by employees and is only for people who are really sick with the virus.

Earlier, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) called on the government to ease the existing sick leave rules as a preventive measure.

TUCP said the relaxation of sick leave rules is necessary to encourage workers who are manifesting flu-like symptoms to go on voluntary quarantine. — With reports from Rainier Allan Ronda, Pia Lee-Brago, Mayen Jaymalin, Elisa Osorio