MANILA (UPDATED) — Employers and the government must ensure that workers are protected from extreme heat during the dry season, labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno said Sunday as it called for expanded coverage of labor department guidelines for measures like temperature control and water breaks.

The heat index reached as high as 40ºC last week, prompting the suspension of in-person classes in some areas of the Philippines, with weather bureau PAGASA warning the temperature could go up even more.

“Responsibilidad ng gobyerno at mga employer na tiyakin na ang mga manggagawa ay ligtas habang nagtatrabaho,” KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis said in a release.

(It is the responsibility of the government and of employers to ensure that workers are safe while they are working.)

RELATED: SC allows flexible hours for court personnel as heat index rises

The Department of Labor and Employment issued Labor Advisory No. 8 in 2023 which recommends measures to help workers deal with extreme heat, including:

• Allowing temperature-appropriate clothing and providing free and adequate drinking water
• Ensuring adequate ventilation and heat insulation in workplaces
• Adjusting rest breaks or work locations

In a separate statement, Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles called on employers to heed the DOLE advisory.

"Let us be reminded that our workers' health and welfare results to productivity gains for the organization," the congressman, chair of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, said.

"Gaya nga ng sabi, prevention is better than cure," he said.

"Para sa mga organisasyon, mas praktikal na tutukan ang occupational safety kaysa tumugon sa epekto ng kapabayaan," he said.

(For organizations, it is more practical to focus on occupation safety than to address the effects of neglecting it.)

He said that failure to address extreme heat could lead to productivity loss, accidents and legal cases.

'Protect delivery riders, informal workers too'

KMU said Sunday that the DOLE advisory should be expanded to include outdoor workers like those working in construction and in package and order delivery.

“Hindi rin nito sinasaklaw ang mga informal sector workers gaya ng mga manininda, jeepney driver at iba pa. Dapat gobyerno ang sumasalo sa responsibilidad sa kaligtasan ng mga manggagawa na walang malinaw na employer-employee relationship.” 

(The advisory does not cover informal sector workers like vendors, jeepney drivers and others. The government should take on the responsibility of workers’ safety for those without a clear employer-employee relationship.)

READ: Cebu province suspends classes in all levels amid extreme heat

KMU said that DOLE should make its recommendations mandatory as it stressed that the extreme heat is a health and safety hazard for workers.

The group said the government can consider policies like extended water and rest breaks as well as setting temperature caps to protect workers from the risk of heat stroke.

In the meantime, KMU said, workers can conduct dialogues with employers’ and government agencies to push for policies to protect them from rising temperatures.

RELATED VIDEO