WORKERS may now refuse to go to work during the month-long enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon without the risk of any disciplinary action from their management, labor officials said on Wednesday. However, officials clarified that because of the crisis, they must use their forced leave to continue getting paid.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) laid down this guidance amid reports some workers are still being forced by their employers to defy the home-quarantine rule under the ECQ.
Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said the concerned employees could cite the Memorandum Circular signed by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea on Monday as a valid basis for them to refuse to go to work.
The memorandum circular enforced the ECQ in Luzon as part of the government’s measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country.
Among its salient provisions is the suspension of all classes and work in the Luzon except for certain sectors like those working in healthcare, basic utilities, food production and preparation, among others.
“They do not have to report [for work] since they are under the Enhanced Community Quarantine . . . they will be excused. There will also be no basis for them to be disciplined [by their employer],” Bello said during a press briefing late Tuesday evening.
Leave credits explained
He also clarified the question of leave credits.
In principle, only workers will have the discretion to use their leave credits. However, the DOLE stressed that in the case of the ECQ, workers will be forced to use their leave credits to continue getting paid for the duration of the confinement in their homes.
“Otherwise, the employees will just expect for the financial assistance from DOLE or generosity of their employers. Using the leave credits should not be the issue. It is a matter of getting paid or not,” DOLE said in a statement.
DOLE said it will be a different matter in case a worker becomes a person under investigation (PUI) or person under monitoring (PUM) due to Covid-19.
It said PUIs and PUMs will be paid during their quarantine period regardless if they filed their leaves or not.
Image credits: Roy Domingo
1 comment
I am now in 15 days forced leave March 31- April 15, 2020 and no pay as well. This coming salary i don’t have any salary to get…today we are suffering in Covid19 pandemic, how can my family survive this kind of situation. Even DOLE and SAC assistance until now, I don’t know when it will come. Can I get salary on my forced leave