DOLE: Covid-19 positive workers cannot be ordered to report for work

The start of 2022 saw the Philippines with record-breaking numbers of people testing positive for Covid-19 due to the local transmission of the Omicron variant. Expectedly, many employers find it difficult to maintain their workforce as their employees are unable to report for work after testing positive for the virus.

Unfortunately, there are reports that some establishments still require their Covid-19 positive employees to report for work, particularly if they are asymptomatic only. This has raised concerns not only from the workers but also from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and local government units (LGUs).

In response to a report that a Company ordered its Covid-19 positive employees to report for work, DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello III categorically stated that these employees cannot be ordered to do so since it would violate IATF Resolutions and labor laws.

“You cannot legally compel a worker who is positive to report to work,” says Bello. This is due to the fact that these Covid-19 positive employees have to be isolated to avoid further transmission and spread of the virus in communities.

The following is a clip of the news report:

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