DOLE suspends work in head office on Jan. 14 and 17, 2022

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has suspended work in its head and regional office in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday, January 14, and Monday, January 17.

In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the work suspension was due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the region and “the increasing number of cases in the department.”

Bello said as of January 13, there are 128 infected officials and staff in the department. He said this accounts to about 21% of DOLE’s central office personnel of around 600.

"Services of the Department of Labor and Employment in the central office in Intramuros and its regional office in the National Capital Region will not be available to the public on Friday, January 14, and Monday, January 17," DOLE said.

In a memorandum issued on Thursday, Bello directed all heads of offices, services and bureaus, including the NCR regional office, to resume work on Tuesday, January 18.

Earlier in the week, Bello directed all DOLE offices and attached agencies in areas with surging number of COVID-19 cases across the country to implement alternative work arrangements, including work from home, for their personnel.

"Skeletal workforce shall be limited to those performing or providing essential services," Bello said in an administrative order issued on Tuesday.

The work arrangements took effect on Wednesday, January 12, and will last until January 30.

The Department of Health on Thursday reported 34,021 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the Philippines' case load to 3,092,409.

It was the highest number of cases reported since the pandemic began in the country in March 2020. The previous highest daily case count was 33,169 on January 10.   —KBK, GMA News