The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday (Sep. 2) said more than 4,000 companies recorded COVID-19 cases in their workplaces.
In today’s (Sep. 2) Laging Handa public briefing, DOLE Assistant Secretary Maria Teresita Cucueco bared they have received 48,413 reports from companies from January to August where 4,700 companies recorded COVID-19 cases.
“May mga reports tayong dapat tanggapin natin ng kanilang numero ng mga COVID cases. So, mula Enero hanggang ngayon, mayroon kaming nakuhang mga 48,413 reports from companies and doon sa 48,000 na iyan, may 4,700 companies na may COVID- 19 at ang nakita namin dito ang karamihan ay nasa service sector.”
Among the sectors with the most recorded number of COVID-19 cases are the service sector, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade including groceries and supermarkets, finance and insurance activities, and the construction sector.
“So nandoon po iyong nasa trade, iyong nasa pagtitinda, nasa—iba’t-ibang serbisyo na ginagawa kasi usually kung hindi ma-classify doon ilalagay. Ang sumusunod naman po dito ay manufacturing, ito iyong isang sektor na sumusunod sa maraming kaso ng COVID na nareport po sa DOLE at iyong mga sunod din dito iyong wholesale and retail trade naman po,” she said.
“So, iyong mga nagtitinda, iyong mga grocery and mga supermarkets nakatala rin po sila ng mga kaso ng COVID-19. Sunod po ito mga finance and insurance activities and finally po sa construction. So, itong top 5 sectors, dito sa report na sina-submit sa amin, itong COVID work accident illness report na natanggap ng DOLE may mga COVID cases,” she added.
In relation to this, DOLE said it strengthened its workplace inspection nationwide to ensure the safety of those who physically report to work. Cucueco said the inspection is done to affirm the compliance of the companies to the health and safety standards.
She disclosed that some establishments failed to comply with the guidelines such as assigning a safety officer and forming a safety and health committee.
“So, may kakulangan din po iyong ibang kumpanya at iyan iyong lumalabas na isa sa mga deficiencies at susunod dito iyong safety and health committee. Kasi kung wala itong safety and health committee ito iyon talagang nagpapatupad nitong mga protocols, mahihirapan po talaga.”
Cucueco said the department completed the inspection of 72,000 establishments out of the targeted 75,000 as of the first semester and those that complied with the occupational safety standards and health protocols against COVID-19 were given a safety seal.
DOLE has given 292 safety seals to various business establishments out of the over 800 establishments that applied.
Report from Kenneth Paciente/NGS-rir
