DOLE: Employees Can Refuse To Work Amid Quarantine In Luzon
DOLE – The Department of Labor and Employment recently said that employees can refuse to work amid the Luzon-wide enhanced quarantine.
According to Philippine News Agency, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello II said that they do not have to report if they don’t want to since the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon is still ongoing.
“They do not have to report if they don’t want to report. Or since they are under enhanced community quarantine, then they can really not report and they will be excused. There will be no basis for them to be disciplined,”
President Duterte recently placed the entire island group of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine until April 12 in order to contain the spread of Coronavirus disease 2019.
The quarantine involved implementing a strict home quarantine in all households and limit their movement.
Work is also suspended in the biggest island group except if employees are in charge of health and other essential services. Bello added that employees could use their leave credits for their absences.
“Ngayon kung wala, DOLE na ang mananagot sa kanila“
(Now, if they do not have leave credits, DOLE will help them).
The labor secretary added that they could register a complaint before his office against employers who would force them to report.
Under Republic Act (RA) No. 11058, workers have the right to refuse to work without threat of reprisal from the employer should an imminent danger occurs in the workplace that may lead to illness, injury or death.
About 97 firms have implemented flexible work arrangements amid the COVID-19 outbreak, while 28 establishments temporarily suspended their operations.
As per the report, the labor department also ensured that about ₱1.3 billion in financial assistance would be sent to employees affected by the Luzon-wide community quarantine.
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