Villanueva urges DOLE to inspect worksite with 300 COVID-19 cases

Senator Joel Villanueva on Monday urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to check if a construction site in Taguig City, where over 300 workers tested positive for COVID-19, followed occupational safety and health protocols.

"Having 327 workers testing positive at a single workplace should already serve as a wake-up call for DOLE. This incident clearly shows how the transmission of the disease can spread to a lot of people if prevention and control measures are lax," Villanueva, chair of the Senate committee on labor, said in a statement.

He added that DOLE must continue its labor inspections at other workplaces to check their compliance with COVID-19 precautionary measures.

The senator also nudged employers to follow the safety guidelines released by the DOLE and Department of Trade and Industry for businesses that are allowed to operate under various levels of community quarantines.

Citing Republic Act No. 11058 or the Occupational Safety and Health law, Villanueva reminded the safety officers of companies not to delay a work stoppage once a COVID-19 case was detected in the workplace.

While lauding the city government of Taguig for initiating COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, the senator said more effort is expected from the construction site's safety personnel.

The national government allowed the resumption of certain construction work in May even in areas under an enhanced community quarantine.  — DVM, GMA News