As the Congress opened its session earlier this week, the Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines urges its members to certify the paid pandemic leave bill or House Bill 7909 as urgent for legislation.
“The Covid 19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the health and livelihood of millions of Filipino families. Workers who are at the frontlines of our economy need additional social protection. That is why we urge Congress to certify paid pandemic leave bill as an urgent legislation and pass it into law as soon as possible,” Julius Carandang, MWAP National Coordinator said.
In the last quarter of 2020, MWAP and the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development launched a campaign for paid pandemic leave through the legislation of HB 7909 authored by Gabriela Women’s Party. See petition here.
Paid pandemic leave is like hitting two birds with one stone, according to MWAP. “It saves workers from further economic hardship in case they get sick or exposed to a Covid 19 patient and it will also prevent the further spread of Covid 19 in the workplace as workers will be more willing to go on quarantine because their pay is guaranteed by the law.” Carandang averred.
HB 7909 entitles workers to a 14-day paid pandemic leave if they belong to any of the following: tested positive for Covid 19, had close contact with a Covid 19 patient or is taking care of a family member who got sick with Covid 19. Workers who temporarily lost their jobs due to the pandemic (i.e. lockdown, temporary closure, etc.) are also entitled to 80% of their daily pay for as long as 60 days.
“Now that Covid 19 has been considered as an occupational disease, which affirms that workers are at greater risk of contracting the Covid 19, then there is more reason for our legislators to pass this bill into law,” Carandang added.
On April 28, the Employees Compensation Commission signed a resolution including Covid 19 in the list of occupational, work-related diseases.
As for the budget, MWAP says that the law provides that paid pandemic leave will be paid for by the Department of Labor and Employment. “We believe that the government can and should find ways to fund paid pandemic leaves once it passes into law. A few billions to fund this much-needed social protection will not hurt. After all, workers safety and health should be a matter of national priority if we really want to bounce back from this economic slump brought about by the pandemic.” Carandang said.#
MWAP 