The main office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Intramuros, Manila has temporarily stopped its operations after several of its employees tested positive from COVID-19.
In a virtual forum, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced that operations has been suspended since 2pm on Wednesday, March 17 and will last until Thursday, March 18. The labor department’s main office will resume its operations on Friday but only for essential workers.
“My office is under lockdown and some of the offices in the Department of Labor are also under lockdown because we have discovered that there are three employees that tested positive for COVID-19,” Sec. Bello relayed.
But the labor secretary clarified that after getting the test, his results turned out negative.
Meanwhile, Sec. Bello said there are no reports yet from workers and employers regarding incidents of high transmission rates of COVID-19 in workplaces due to strict compliance of companies to health protocols in their offices.
“We have not received complaints from workers on lack of ventilation in work areas. Employers are strictly complying with that requirement since they will also be affected,” Sec. Bello stated.
Still, he assured that if employers will not follow the guidelines set for workplaces, they will be sanctioned or worse, may be recommended by the DOLE to the Department of Trade and Industry to have their operations stopped.
Employees may also be subjected to disciplinary action such as suspension, administrative action or basis of dismissal if proven that they do not comply with health protocols while in the workplace. – Louisa Erispe
