Employers, workers tapped vs swine flu

THE Department of Labor and Employment reiterated its call to employers and workers groups to take precautionary measures against influenza A (H1N1) as it formed a task force to combat an outbreak of the disease in workplaces.

Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said that in view of the growing number of diagnosed cases of H1N1 in the country, the DoLE deemed it necessary to form the “Task Force on H1N1 in the Workplace” which will serve as the focal point of the DoLE’s efforts against the A (H1N1) threat.

He said the task force will monitor the implementation of the DoLE advisory asking employers to regularly provide their workers information on swine flu including its transmission, disease outcome and treatment.

Companies are also reminded to regularly clean their work areas and make sure that water, soap and disinfectants are available in washrooms and toilets. Delegation of company focal persons who would monitor and ensure that measures against H1N1 are strictly followed at the workplace is highly encouraged.

The DoLE chief, citing a report from Undersecretary Lourdes Trasmonte, said the task force has been formed with the Executive Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Center as chair and the Directors of Bureaus of Working Conditions, Labor Relations, and Women and Young Workers, the Employees Compensation Commission, and DoLE regional offices as members.

Trasmonte said the task force would intensively collaborate with labor and employers groups as well as with other government agencies in disseminating information on H1N1 in all workplaces along with issues related to occupational safety and health (OSH) and general labor standards (GLS).

She added that the task force would also assist workers and employers in plant-level risk assessment as well as in putting in place improvements in order to reduce the possibility of H1N1 transmission at the workplace.

Trasmonte urged labor and management to send their H1N1 focal persons for training at OSHC which can be reached at 924-2418/928-6690 and www.oshc.dole.gov.ph.

Meanwhile, public and private health workers diagnosed with H1N1 are entitled to the P150,000 PhilHealth hospitalization benefit, an addition to company healthcare benefits.

Non-health workers such as managers, call center agents, teachers, clerks, etc., and their dependents who are diagnosed with H1N1 may get PhilHealth hospital benefits amounting to P75,000. A worker who contracts H1N1 in the performance of his/her work is also entitled to sickness benefits under SSS and employees compensation benefits under PD 626 or the ECC law.