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Over 4K firms in NCR compliant with workplace rules vs. Covid-19

By Ferdinand Patinio

July 14, 2020, 8:49 pm

<p><em>(File photo)</em></p>

(File photo)

MANILA – Over 80 percent of more than 5,000 business establishments in Metro Manila have complied with the interim guidelines on workplace prevention and control of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported Tuesday.

In a statement, DOLE-National Capital Region director Sarah Buena Mirasol said 4,062 out of the 5,049 companies monitored by her office and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) were all compliant with the guidelines.

The monitoring of the firms was done from June 8 to July 1, 2020.

"When we say compliant, that means the employer has an established health and safety practices in their workplaces amid Covid-19 pandemic in accordance with the Interim Guidelines,” she said.

Mirasol said these rules include wearing of face masks; maintaining a physical distance of one meter at all times; checking and recording daily the temperature of their workers and visitors using health symptoms questionnaire; and ensuring sanitation and disinfection process inside their work areas and outside their office premises, among others.

The top five monitored industries in NCR included accommodation and food services with a total of 18,641 workers from 1,581 establishments; other service activities with 30,959 workers from 1,098 establishments; wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles with 12,252 workers from 1,600 establishments; manufacturing with 17,308 workers from 172 establishments; and administrative and support services with 53,093 workers from 124 establishments.

The area with the highest number of monitored establishments in Metro Manila was in Muntaparlas (Muntinlupa, Taguig, Parañaque, Las Piñas) cluster with 1,415; followed by Papamamarisan (Pasig, Pateros, Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan) with 1,243; Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) with 946; Makati-Pasay with 548; Quezon City with 508; and ManIla with 389.

Monitored workplaces in the Papamamarisan area hold the largest number of covered workers with 68,835 followed by Muntaparlas with 37,378 workers; Makati-Pasay with 19,876; Camanava with 19,699; Quezon City with 18,894; and Manila with 5,048.

Section 9 of the interim guidelines also directed the DTI and DOLE to extend assistance and technical support to all workplaces, employers, and workers in complying with the guidelines.

Employers were reminded to ensure of the following observations that were noted during the June 8 to July 1, 2020 monitoring period, which includes among others, a monthly report using the DOLE-Work Accident Illness Report (WAIR) Covid Form submitted to DOLE regional office; company commitment to comply with OSH requirements and updated OSH Program to include Covid Control Plan / Program.

Also, the signages on Covid-19 safety measures posted in the premises (outside / entrance and inside the office); contact numbers of nearest Department of Health (DOH) Facility / Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) posted at conspicuous places; and transparent barriers between office tables and open workspaces provided (if applicable).

"We also advise and expect they would take cognizance of the findings in support to formulation or enhancement of their company safety and health policies to prevent and control the spread of the virus in their workplaces,” Mirasol added. (PNA)

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