Guidelines on

2019 Novela-Coronavirus
Prevention and Control at the Workplace
LABOR ADVISROY No. 04
Series of 2020

Republic of the Philippines

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 Pursuant to RA 11058* and its IRR DOLE
Department Order 198:
These guidelines are issued to assist private sector workplaces
in their preparedness and response to the 2019-nCoV.

*RA 11058 is the act strengthening compliance with Occupational Safety and
Health Standards and providing penalties for violations

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 I. COVERAGE

These guidelines shall apply to all employees and workers in

the private sector.

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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH
As a precautionary measure at the
workplace, all employers are directed
to:

1. Provide information about 2019-

nCoV including its transmission,
disease outcome, and treatment options
to their workers;

http://dohhealthpromotion.ph/infographics/
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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH

2. Clean the work areas with

disinfectant and make sure that water,
soap and sanitizer are available in all
washrooms in toilets;

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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH

3. Avoid or reduce direct exposure of

workers to animals, environments an
objects which may be possibly carrying
the 2019-nCoV;

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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH

4. Ensure food in canteens or similar

areas is properly prepared, handled and
cooked;

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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH

5. Emphasize to all workers the

everyday actions to stay healthy and
keep a clean workplace such as:

Cover the nose and mouth when

coughing and sneezing;

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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH

5. Emphasize to all workers the

everyday actions to stay healthy and
keep a clean workplace such as:

Wash hands frequently with soap and

water or cleansing of hands with
alcohol-based sanitizers;

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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH

5. Emphasize to all workers the

everyday actions to stay healthy and
keep a clean workplace such as:

Spit at proper places;

Avoid close contact with sick people;

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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH

5. Emphasize to all workers the

everyday actions to stay healthy and
keep a clean workplace such as:

Increase the body’s resistance by

having adequate rest and at least eiqht
(8) hours of sleep;

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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH

5. Emphasize to all workers the

everyday actions to stay healthy and
keep a clean workplace such as:

Drink plenty of fluids;

Eat nutritious food

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 II. WORKPLACE HEALTH

5. Emphasize to all workers the everyday

actions to stay healthy and keep a clean
workplace such as:
Monitor the health of workers particularly
those with fever and other flu symptoms and
those who have traveled to or worked in
countries affected with the
2019-nCoV.

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 WORKPLACE WITH IMMINENT
DANGER SITUATIONS
In workplaces like health-care and other frontline services,
employer shall take immediate protective measures to
-avoid
-correct
-remove
such imminent danger. A screening program on 2019-nCoV
must be installed in accordance with the Guidelines issued by
the Department of Health (DOH).

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 WORKPLACE WITH IMMINENT
DANGER SITUATIONS
Screening or triage shall follow a procedure using a checklist
that may include related to:
 Recent travel to China or place on the WHO list with local
transmission or outbreak of 2019-nCoV;
 Recent contact with a confirmed or suspected 2019-nCoV, and
 Affliction by such symptoms as fever greater than 38 degrees
Celsius and flu-like symptoms such as cough, difficulty of
breathing or shortness of breath.

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 WORKPLACE WITH IMMINENT
DANGER SITUATIONS
Workers in said workplaces must take extra precautionary
measures which include strict hygiene and the use of personal
protective equipment (PPE).
Employers shall ensure that PPE (e.g. respirators such as N95, gowns,
gloves) is properly worn by the workers while at work and disposed of
accordingly after use.
Concerns and/or reports on 2019-nCoV shall be coordinated
with the DOH.

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 GUIDANCE TO EMPLOYERS FOR CARE
OF WORKERS WHO ARE SICK OR WITH
FEVER
A. In the event that a worker is suspected as having 2019-
nCoV, the employer shall:
1. Provide the worker with a face mask to prevent risk of spreading
infection;
2. Isolate the worker immediately in a separate well-ventilated room
in the workplace away from the workers;

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 GUIDANCE TO EMPLOYERS FOR CARE
OF WORKERS WHO ARE SICK OR WITH
FEVER
A. In the event that a worker is suspected as having 2019-
nCoV, the employer shall:
3. Refer the worker to the company healthcare provider or to the
nearest local health center or hospital for laboratory confirmation
if the history, signs and symptoms are consistent with a suspected
case of 2019-nCoV;

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 GUIDANCE TO EMPLOYERS FOR CARE
OF WORKERS WHO ARE SICK OR WITH
FEVER
A. In the event that a worker is suspected as having 2019-
nCoV, the employer shall:
4. Report the worker to the DOH at numbers 8-711-1001 and 8-711-
1002;
5. Ensure the implementation of recommendations provided by the
DOH on the management and transport of suspected case of
2019-nCoV;

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 GUIDANCE TO EMPLOYERS FOR CARE
OF WORKERS WHO ARE SICK OR WITH
FEVER
A. In the event that a worker is suspected as having 2019-
nCoV, the employer shall:
6. Observe respiratory precautions when taking care of patients with
flu or flu-like illness, and;
7. Decontaminate the work area with appropriate disinfectant (e.g.
chlorine bleaching solution and 1:100 phenol-based disinfectant).

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 GUIDANCE TO EMPLOYERS FOR CARE
OF WORKERS WHO ARE SICK OR WITH
FEVER
B. In the event that a worker is sick or has fever but is not
suspected to have 2019-nCoV, the employer must advise
the worker to take prudent measures to limit the spread of
communicable diseases, as follows:
1. Stay at home and keep away from work or crowds;

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 GUIDANCE TO EMPLOYERS FOR CARE
OF WORKERS WHO ARE SICK OR WITH
FEVER
B. In the event that a worker is sick or has fever but is not suspected to
have 2019-nCoV, the employer must advise the worker to take
prudent measures to limit the spread of communicable diseases, as
follows:
2. Take adequate rest and take plenty of fluids;
3. Practice personal hygiene to prevent spread of disease; and
4. Seek medical care for persistent fever, difficulty of breathing
starts, or when he/she becomes weak.

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 III. LEAVE OF ABSENCE/
ENTITLEMENTS

LEAVE OF ABSENCE (Workers requested by employers to stay at

home/ serve quarantine order for reasons related to 2019-nCoV:
1. Leave of absence (LOA) may be charged to their annual sick/
vacation leave credits under company policy, practice or according
to CBA, if there is any. For used up credits, employers may consider
granting LOA without pay. Employers are encouraged to exercise
flexibility and compassion in granting additional leave with pay.

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 III. LEAVE OF ABSENCE/
ENTITLEMENTS

LEAVE OF ABSENCE (Workers requested by employers to stay at

home/ serve quarantine order for reasons related to 2019-nCoV:
2. By mutual agreement, employers and workers could also agree on
other arrangements for the worker’s leave of absence.

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 III. LEAVE OF ABSENCE/
ENTITLEMENTS

For workers who need to take a leave to

-Take care of their children or parents afflicted or suspected of having
2019-nCoV, or
-Choose to stay away from work on their own accord due to contact
with a confirmed or suspected 2019-nCoV to avoid its transmission:
Employers are encouraged to adopt a flexible and enlightened
approach in granting time-off which may include use of leave
credits, if there is any.

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 III. LEAVE OF ABSENCE/
ENTITLEMENTS

For workers who have used up their vacation or sick leave

credits, employers could consider granting them leave of
absence without pay.

HOSPITALIZATION BENEFITS
In addition to existing company health-care benefits,
PhilHealth members and their dependents infected with 2019-
nCoV may avail of PhilHealth hospital benefits.
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 III. LEAVE OF ABSENCE/
ENTITLEMENTS

A worker who contracts 2019-nCoV in the performance of

his/her work is entitled to sickness benefits under the SSS and
employees’ compensation benefits under PD 626 (EC Law).

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 III. LEAVE OF ABSENCE/
ENTITLEMENTS

In the event that the worker is not qualified to avail of the

benefits under SSS or PhilHealth due to fault of the employer,
the employer shall shoulder all the medical expenses in full
until recovery.

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 IV. ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED BY
DOLE

For workers in the country, the Bureau of Working Conditions

(BWC), the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC)
and the DOLE-Regional Offices (DOLE-Ros), in collaboration
with the DOH, shall provide the following:

1. Information on 2019-nCoV and workplace concerns including issues

related to OSH Standards and General Labor Standards;

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 IV. ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED BY
DOLE

2. Technical assistance in the form of risk assessment, use of protective

equipment including a respirator program, workplace improvements
to reduce the likelihood of droplet of infection and contamination by
materials possibly infected by the virus and
3. Capability-building of 2019-nCoV focal persons in the workplace.

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 IV. ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED BY
DOLE

For overseas Filipino workers (OFW), the Philippine Overseas

Employment Administration (POEA), the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the International Labor
Affairs Bureau (LAB) shall ensure that information on 2019-
nCoV prevention and control are provided during the pre-
departure orientation seminars.

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 IV. ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED BY
DOLE

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 IV. ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED BY
DOLE

The DOLE agencies concerned shall make a regular progress

report on the prevention and control of 2019-nCoV spread in
the workplaces. The BWC shall ensure the observance of these
guidelines.

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 V. EFFECTIVITY

These guidelines shall take effect immediately.

31 January 2020

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