DOLE urges employers to have paid Covid-19 leave program

By Mavic Conde

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has released an advisory urging employers in the private sector to have a distinct and separate program for Covid-19 infected employees.

Through the Labor Advisory No. 1, DOLE urged companies to implement an “appropriate paid isolation and quarantine leave program” on top of existing leave benefits.

Eligible employees include confirmed cases, as well as close contact, suspect, or probable, as each needs to quarantine (either at home or facilities), if not isolate in accordance with the current Department of Health (DOH) Guidelines for Quarantine, Isolation, and Testing for Covid-19.

The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), a national labor group championing trade unionism, considers this a win for their call for a paid isolation and quarantine leave.

Its tweeter handler @kilusangmayouno posted a tweet with this caption for the DOLE advisory:

“TAGUMPAY ANG LABAN PARA SA PAID ISOLATION AT QUARANTINE LEAVE!”

The group also urged the DOLE to keep an eye on its implementation and to act immediately on companies that will refuse to implement this.

Ultimately, the KMU challenged the DOLE to support the bill for Paid Pandemic Leave.

“Hinahamon namin ang DOLE na suportahan ang panukalang batas na Paid Pandemic Leave. Dapat ay tugunan ng gobyerno ang responsibilidad na magbigay ng ayuda sa mga maliliit na negosyo para makapagbigay ng karagdagang benepisyo sa manggagawa.”