DTI, DOLE require free swab tests for hospitality, tourism, manufacturing employees

Workers in the hospitality, tourism, and manufacturing sectors as well as frontliners and economic priority employees should be given free swab tests for the coronavirus disease 2019, the labor department said Sunday.

Under the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 20-04, workers in the following sectors are required to under the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test free of charge:

• Tourist zones
• Local manufacturing companies
• Transport and logistics
• Food retail
• Education
• Financial services
• Non-food retail
• Services
• Public market
• Construction
• Water supply
• Sewerage
• Waste management
• Public sector
• Mass media

The JMC was in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and took effect Saturday, August 15.

Under the guidelines, workers in the hospitality and tourism sectors in Boracay, Coron, El Nido, Panglao, Siargao, and other tourist zones identified by the Department of Tourism should undergo the test every four weeks.

Those involved in manufacturing companies and public service providers in economic zones located within Special Concern Areas should be tested every quarter.

The same is mandated for frontline and economic priority workers, or those who work in high priority sectors, both public and private.

Employees who have high interaction with and exposure to the public and live or work in special concern areas, must also be tested once every quarter.

"Sick leave benefits, medical insurance coverage, including supplemental pay allowance, for COVID 19 RT-PCR test-confirmed employees or close contacts made to undergo a 14-day quarantine must also be provided to workers," the DOLE said.

The People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) in May already appealed for the government to consider providing free testing to private sector employees, especially those working for the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

However, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said the government will not shoulder the cost of mass testing of employees returning to work.

According to the DOLE, the JMC covers all establishments, projects, sites, and all other places where work is being undertaken in branches of economic activity except in the public sector.

"The COVID-19 testing must be at no cost to the employees," Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an emailed statement.

"This is so far the most comprehensive set of guidelines for the safety and protection of workers and employees in workplaces. The strict observance of these health protocols will make a big difference in our long-drawn battle to defeat COVID-19 and ensure the productivity of the Filipino workforce," he added.

Employers classified as large and medium-sized private establishments, or those with total assets above P15 million are also required to provide shuttle services for employees. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News