DOLE issues guidelines on Hepatitis B in workplace

To prevent the spread of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the workplace without discriminating against infected workers, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued a seven-point guideline on dealing with the situation.

The guidelines, contained in DOLE Department Advisory No. 5, became effective on Tuesday, 15 days after it was published in a national newspaper.

“This is part of our efforts to ensure decent work. Workers should not only be provided just wages and benefits. They should also be protected from illnesses like Hepatitis B which may hinder their productivity and competitiveness,” DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said in an article posted on the government portal on Wednesday.

Under the advisory, all private workplaces will implement a rights-based policy and a program on Hepatitis B that incorporates human rights standards and principles.

The guidelines also cover all workers regardless of their employment status.

Hepatitis B

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) website, Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver.

The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person but not through casual contact, WHO said.

About 2 billion people worldwide have been infected with the virus and about 350 million live with chronic infection.

An estimated 600 000 persons die each year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B.

The HBV is 50 to 100 times more infectious than Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but it is preventable with a safe and effective vaccine, WHO said.

According to WHO, the symptoms of HBV include:
# yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice);
# dark urine;
# extreme fatigue;
# nausea;
# vomiting, and
# abdominal pain.

When infected, people can take several months to a year to recover from the symptoms, WHO said.

The disease can also cause a chronic liver infection that can later develop into cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.

Risks for workers

The DOLE advisory requires vaccination in all occupations with a conceivable risk of Hepatitis B transmission in the workplace such as health care workers and other workers whose occupation involves the potential exchange of bodily fluids.

DOLE encourages all establishments to provide Hepatitis B immunization for all its workers.

The advisory also requires firms to include a policy on non-discriminatory, confidentiality, work accommodation, and arrangements for workers with Hepatitis B status.

It specifically states the following:

1. There shall be no discrimination of any form against workers on the basis of their Hepatitis B status consistent with international agreements on non-discrimination ratified by the Philippines (ILO C111). They shall not be discriminated against, from pre- to post-employment, including hiring, promotion, or assignment;

2. They shall not be declared unfit to work without appropriate medical evaluation and counseling;

3. Workers shall not be terminated on the basis of the actual, perceived, or suspected Hepatitis B status;

4. Workplace management of sick employees shall not differ from that of any other illness. Persons with Hepatitis-B related illness should be able to work for as long as they are medically fit;

5. Job applicants and workers shall not be compelled to disclose their Hepatitis B status and other related medical information. Co-workers shall not be obliged to reveal and personal information about fellow workers. Access to personal data relating to a worker’s Hepatitis B status shall be bound by the rules of confidentiality and shall be strictly limited to medical personnel or if legally required;

6. Employers shall take measures to reasonably accommodate workers who are Hepatitis B positive or with Hepatitis B-related illnesses;

7. Through agreements made between management and workers’ representatives, measures to support workers with Hepatitis B are encouraged through flexible leave arrangements, rescheduling of working time, and arrangement for return to work.

Workplace policy

To assist employers and workers, Baldoz said the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), together with the Department of Health (DOH), will help companies formulate and implement their Hepatitis B Workplace Policy and Program.

She added that the DOLE will also develop a basic information package to educate workers and employees on Hepatitis B prevention and management.

Baldoz said the DOLE’s regional offices, the DOH, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units (LGUs), will monitor the compliance of private establishments on the implementation of the Hepatitis B workplace policy and program. – VVP, GMANews.TV