The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday said 80 percent of establishments in the National Capital Region (NCR) that they have so far monitored were found compliant to the Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19.

DOLE-NCR Regional Director Sarah Mirasol said out of the 5,049 companies they have monitored from June 8 to July 1, 2020 about 4,062 have complied with their interim guidelines.

"When we say compliant, that means the employer has established the required health and safety practices in the workplace amid (the) COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with the interim guidelines,” she said in a statement on July 14.

Mirasol said this includes the wearing of face masks; maintaining physical distance of one meter at all times; checking and recording daily the temperature of their workers and visitors using health symptoms questionnaire; and ensuring sanitation and disinfection process inside their work areas and outside their office premises, among others.

According to DOLE, the top five monitored industries in NCR included accommodation and food services with a total of 18,641 workers from 1,581 establishments; other service activities with 30,959 workers from 1,098 establishments; wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles with 12,252 workers from 1,600 establishments; manufacturing with 17,308 workers from 172 establishments; and administrative and support services with 53,093 workers from 124 establishments.

The Labor department said the area with the highest number of monitored establishments in NCR were in MUNTAPARLAS (Muntinlupa, Taguig, Parañaque, Las Piñas) cluster with 1,415; followed by PAPAMAMARISAN (Pasig, Pateros, Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan) with 1,243; CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) with 946; Makati-Pasay with 548; Quezon City with 508; and Manila with 389.

Monitored workplaces in the PAPAMAMARISAN area, the DOLE said, also holds the largest number of covered workers with 68,835 followed by MUNTAPARLAS with 37,378 workers; Makati-Pasay with 19,876; CAMANAVA with 19,699; Quezon City with 18,894; and Manila with 5,048.

Mirasol reminded employers to ensure compliance with the following: a monthly report using the DOLE-Work Accident Illness Report (WAIR) COVID form submitted to DOLE Regional Office; company commitment to comply with OSH requirements and updated OSH Program to include COVID control plan or program; signages on COVID safety measures posted in the premises; contact numbers of nearest Department of Health (DOH) facility  or Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) posted at conspicuous places; and transparent barriers between office tables and open work spaces provided (if applicable). 

"The ongoing pandemic had posed major challenges and adjustments on business establishments so our approach would be to continue providing employers with technical assistance,” she said.

“We also advise and expect they would take cognizance of the findings in support to formulation or enhancement of their company safety and health policies to prevent and control the spread of the virus in their workplaces," added Mirasol.