The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is urging employers in the private sector to provide paid leaves for workers who will have to quarantine or isolate due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In Labor Advisory 01, series 2022 issued by DOLE on Monday, Jan. 17, employers are urged to "adopt and implement an appropriate paid isolation and quarantine leave program" for employees who have to go on home or facility-based quarantine as well as those who are confirmed to have COVID-19.

Under the advisory signed by Labor Secretay Silvestre Bello III, the paid quarantine period shall be provided "on top of existing leave benefits under the company policy, Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Labor Code of the Philippines, and special laws."

"The paid isolation and quarantine leaves shall be without prejudice to other benefits provided by the Social Security System and the Employees Compensation Commission," Bello added.

The latest labor advisory also required all private sector employees identified as close contacts of COVID-19 cases or are suspect, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 cases to complete their mandatory quarantine period at home or in an isolation facility.

According to DOLE, the move was in line with the quarantine and isolation guidelines recently issued by the Department of Health (DOH).

DOH Memorandum 2022-0013 stated that fully-vaccinated asymptomatic close contacts of people who either have symptoms of COVID-19 or are potential coronavirus cases must quarantine for at least five days from potential exposure.

Those who are asymptomatic but are either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will be required to quarantine for at least 14 days from date of possible exposure.

Meanwhile, isolation for asymptomatic but fully-vaccinated people who have tested positive for COVID-19 lasts at least seven days, while 10 days for those who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated.