A referral system for workers with mental concerns will soon be in place, as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) nears the completion of a new set of guidelines on the workplace in compliance with the provisions of the Republic Act (RA) 11036, or the Mental Health Act (MHA).
In a text message, Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) Director Ma. Teresita Cucueco told the BusinessMirror that his office is now just getting inputs from labor stakeholders on the draft before it is finalized.
“We already have the draft that we are presenting to the TIPC [Tripartite Industrial Peace Council],” Cucueco said.
Labor Assistant Secretary Benjo Benavidez said the initial draft of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) will contain a referral mechanism for workers with mental concerns.
“Companies usually have no facility to rehabilitate or to cure mental [illness]. So they should have a mechanism for referral,” Benavidez told the BusinessMirror in an interview.
He also said the guidelines will contain provision to include mental health in the mandate of safety and health committee of each firm.
“They will be tasked to promote mental health awareness, education, and information dissemination,” Benavidez said.
He said companies should also ensure that mental illness would not lead to the discrimination of any worker and affect his or her employment and promotion.
The IRR of 11036 took effect earlier this year, which aims to provide the assignment of each government agency on its implementation.
DOLE and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) were tasked to craft the “evidence-based mental health programs” for the workplace in the private and public sector, respectively.
Both government agencies have six months after the effectivity of the IRR to release their respective guidelines.