Health workers walk outside the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City on March 23, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment and concerned employers are now discussing the possibility of imposing a minimum hazard pay rate for private hospitals.
The Department of Health said this after a netizen posted on Twitter that nurses working for a private hospital only received a hazard pay of P200 for half of the month.
The post has since been retweeted 7,000 times and liked by more than 23,000 Twitter users.
“Bagaman nakapaloob po sa iba’t ibang issuance ng Magna Carta for Public Health Care workers na kailangan pong makatanggap ng hazard pay ang pampublikong health care workers, pinag-uusapan na po ngayon ng Department of Labor and Employment kasama ang mga private employers ang suggestion tungkol sa minimum hazard pay para sa mga health care workers sa pribadong kumpanya,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a televised briefing.
(While the requirement of a hazard pay for public health workers are already included in the Magna Carta for Public Health Care workers, the Department of Labor and Employment, together with private employers, are discussing the suggestion of having a minimum hazard pay for health care workers in private companies.)
Vergeire pointed out an administrative order that “strongly encourages” private hospitals and health facilities to provide hazard pay and other benefits for health care workers and staff exposed to COVID-19.
Under Administrative Order no. 26, national government agencies are authorized to grant a hazard pay of a maximum of P500 per day for personnel who report for work during the enhanced community quarantine. Section 9 of the order mandates that the private sector is also encouraged to provide a similar benefit for health workers.
COVID-19, coronavirus, hazard pay, hazard pay for health workers, hazard pay COVID-19