A youth group urged the administration and Congress for the immediate passage of a measure that aims to protect Filipino workers while the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.
Akbayan Youth chair Dr. RJ Naguit said the enactment of the Balik Trabahong Ligtas Bill would ensure on-site workers’ protection during the COVID-19 crisis.
The proposed law seeks to provide mandatory health coverage under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to all workers, including those contractual, contract of service, probationary, and job order, who are required to report for work outside of their homes.
“When we safeguard the welfare of the most vulnerable, we are also securing our own safety. This will only be a minor adjustment for employers and the government that will have a major effect in protecting our families,” he said in a statement.
The group made the call after 385 construction workers in a construction site in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig tested positive for coronavirus.
“In cases like these, the safety officer mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Law, should have issued a work stoppage order as soon as the site became a health hazard for the workers. How did it reach to this point?," Naguit said.
Akbayan Youth noted the COVID-19 threat to the country’s job sector was bound to happen with the “reopening of the economy without guaranteed protection for workers.”
Naguit cited the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released guidelines for employers, but it was not mandatory and had no penalties if worksites do not comply.
"While COVID-19 cases are on a rise, all workers, including job order, probationary or contractual should be given a Philhealth coverage where employers should help pay to cover the premiums," Naguit said.
"Workers should be given adequate protective equipment for those reporting on site and a flexible sick leave policy,” he added.
The number of daily new COVID-19 cases reported by the Department of Health (DOH) continues to increase with a total of 65,304 as of July 18.