Gov’t contractual workers to get compensation during community quarantine period
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTUAL workers will be compensated during the community quarantine period in Metro Manila, Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva said on Saturday evening. He said the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Commission on Audit (CoA) have both agreed to the proposal. “Final decision will be released (on) Monday,” Mr. Villanueva, who heads the committee on labor, employment and human resources development, told reporters. President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday evening placed the National Capital Region (NCR) under a community quarantine from March 15 to April 14. He also suspended work in the Executive branch, leaving agencies to form a “skeletal workforce” to continue operations. Mr. Villanueva said he raised the proposal to CSC Chairman Alicia dela Rosa-Bala, who agreed with the proposal provided CoA will concur. “This needs concurrence with CoA again because there are Circulars governing Contract of Service and Job Orders, and are jointly issued by CSC and CoA,” he said. The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), for its part, urged the private sector to adopt alternative work arrangements to lessen the chances of exposure of employees to the coronavirus. Among the alternatives include telecommuting, work from home, reduction of workdays/ hours, rotation of workers and forced leaves. Leaves of absence during the community quarantine will be charged to the workers’ leave credits. Manufacturing, retail and service establishments were also advised to continue operations, given that social distancing is observed. In its Labor Advisory No. 11 s. 2020, DoLE noted that social distancing means there is at least a one meter radius between individuals. —
House of Representatives worker dies from COVID-19
AN EMPLOYEE of the House of Representatives, who was earlier reported to have contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), passed away on Sunday. “Sad news. The HRep (House of Representatives) employee who was positive with COVID-19 passed away earlier today at 1:45 a.m.,” Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Representative Jericho Jonas B. Nograles told reporters in a Viber message on Sunday. —