We are sure many of our readers have their own horror stories about getting caught in the flash floods that hit Metro Manila on Thursday.
The state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said it was a thunderstorm that brought moderate to heavy rain for about two hours at most, and yet it caused floods that made so many areas in the metropolis impassable, crippled traffic and stranded commuters everywhere.
It was a bad sneak preview altogether. If a relatively moderate downpour can turn disastrous for Metro Manilans and paralyze several areas, both the private sector and the government need to give serious attention to what could happen when a storm or even a superstorm scores a direct hit on the metropolis. We should prepare for this not as a mere possibility but as certainty, and we should all try to limit our potential vulnerabilities.
Thinking about workers’ welfare in particular, the labor department would do well to work with employers to ensure that practical and reasonable work arrangements are in place when heavy rains and floods disrupt work in various workplaces.
The House of Representatives recently approved on second reading a consolidated bill (House Bill 7402, authored by Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte) that seeks to give employees flexible work arrangements or the option to work outside the office or from home through telecommuting, a timely move in light of the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila and the increasingly unpredictable weather. A similar measure authored by Sen. Joel Villanueva passed third reading in the Senate, and we hope these measures will be signed into law.
However, there are many companies in various industries that need their employees on-site even during the worst of times, including those in public transport, public utilities, medical services, hotels, security and business-process outsourcing (BPO).
Set featured imageWhen telecommuting or working from home is not possible, both the government and employers should ensure the safety of employees in their workplaces, as well as on their way to and from work. They should take into account the difficulties employees face when they need to work during typhoons and other natural calamities, and adopt a flexible approach for work during the worst of times. This would help ensure the safety of employees and the smooth operation of their organizations.
Take, for example, the employees in the BPO industry. They are required to work notwithstanding heavy rains and floods. The nature of work in most BPOs demand service for clients in the United States and other countries, where people are probably oblivious about what is happening in the Philippines at any particular time. Popular BPO services here include phone banking and customer service and technical support, which are 24/7 duties.
BPOs, as well as companies in other industries, should be more considerate of their employees’ safety and welfare if there is massive flooding in the areas where they work or reside. Workers should be able to avail themselves of their emergency leave without sanctions. Employees should also be allowed to stay in their offices, perhaps given food and lodging, if travel is no longer possible. If travel is possible, shuttle services must be made available to them. For some companies, this is already part of their standard practice.
An example where leeway is needed is when a worker finds out that his or her children are stranded in school because classes have been suspended. Emergencies like this must be considered with compassion. Workers should be allowed to pick up their kids or take care of other emergencies, perhaps using emergency or “compassionate” leaves.
Employers could also choose to reward employees who report for work during inclement weather by giving additional pay or certain perks and benefits.
The labor department should make it very clear to employers that if typhoons and other natural disasters strike and employees cannot report for work, they have rights like leave credits they can use under the Labor Code without sanctions. Such scenarios are very real possibilities in the Philippines, which was ranked as the third-most disaster-prone country in the world.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano