The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday announced private companies have the free hand to require employees to wear face masks to curb possible Covid spread in the workplace.
Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma issued the clarification in Labor Advisory (LA) No. 2, series of 2022, which specifies the guidelines in the implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 7.
“Employers and their workers may implement a policy requiring the wearing of face masks, taking into account, among others, the hazards and risks [e.g., enclosed space and poor ventilation], industry requirements [e.g., Food safety], and incidence of other communicable diseases [e.g., flu and tuberculosis], including measures to address noncompliance thereto pursuant to the existing company policy, rules, and regulations,” Laguesma said in his advisory issued on Wednesday.
The labor chief said DOLE Regional Offices would provide assistance to companies in the implementation of the policy.
He stressed, however, LA 2, will only cover workers and workplaces in the private sector.
Last Friday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued EO 7, which expanded the policy for the voluntary wearing of face masks to include indoor settings.
The order, however, will not apply to health-care facilities, medical transport vehicles, and public transportation, where the wearing of face mask will still be mandatory.
The order also “highly encouraged” the elderly, immunocompromised, unvaccinated, and symptomatic individuals, individuals with comorbidities, and pregnant women to continue wearing facemasks.
The measure is part of the government’s efforts to encourage more foreign tourists to visit the country.