CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Rather than pass the burden on struggling employers, the national government should instead subsidize the isolation and quarantine leaves of employees in the private sector, a business leader said on Saturday.
Renato Romero, private sector representative in the Regional Development Council in Central Luzon, suggested this in the light of Labor Advisory No. 1, Series of 2022.
Issued by the Department of Labor and Employment last Jan. 17, it “urged” employees “to adopt and implement an appropriate isolation and quarantine leave program on top of existing leave benefits under the company policy.”
While the advisory was not mandatory, Romero said only large companies that account for six percent of employers can comply with it.
“Ang gobyerno ang dapat kumargo at this point through the PhilHealth, SSS [Social Security System] and other agencies because many MSMEs [Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises] are struggling to survive as it is,” Romero, former president of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industries said.
Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia, spokesperson of Commission on Human Rights, said in a statement: “If implemented, this can also help workers focus on their and their loved ones’ recovery so they may pursue other rights, including work, and eventually contribute back to economic recovery. “
“Beyond this, CHR also hopes that appropriate support be provided by the government, particularly to struggling businesses, who may want to provide such benefit but are equally challenged in staying afloat in the midst of the pandemic,” De Guia said.
