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The country’s employers must heed the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) advisory for employers to protect their workers from scorching summer heat, Rizal 4th district Rep. Fidel Nograles said.

Nograles, chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, was referring to DOLE's Labor Advisory No. 8, series of 2023, which recommends various measures to avoid heat stress.

These include reducing extreme heat exposure of employees through adequate ventilation and heat insulation in workplaces, adjustments in rest breaks and work locations, use of personal protective equipment, and access to hydration.

“Ngayong opisyal nang nagsimula ang tag-init na pinalala pa ng tagtuyot dahil sa El Niño at climate change, nananawagan tayo sa mga employer na sundin ang DOLE advisory para sa kapakanan ng ating mga empleyado," Nograles said.

(Now that summer has officially started, and is being made worse by El Niño and climate change, we appeal to the employers to follow the DOLE advisory for the sake of our workers.)

“Let us be minded that our workers’ health and welfare results to productivity gains for the organization,” noted the House leader.

He warned against the negative effects of heat exposure, which he said could result in occupational illnesses and injuries.

“Prevention is better than cure. Para sa mga organisasyon, mas praktikal na tutukan ang occupational safety kaysa tumugon sa epekto ng kapabayaan, na maaaring magdulot ng productivity loss, aksidente, at posibleng kaso dahil sa paglabag sa batas,” Nograles said.

(For these organizations, it's more practical to focus on occupational safety instead of responding to the effects of neglect, which could lead to productivity loss, accidents, and violations of the law.)

Aside from the preventive measures, the DOLE also recommended conducting information campaigns to help employees identify and address symptoms of heat stress.