Work from home pushed due to coronavirus threat

Maybe it's time now to innovate in working facilities.

Senators have appealed anew to employers to allow their workers to work from home to minimize the threats of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

They made the call after Department of Health (DOH) announced on Friday two new confirmed cases of the coronavirus infection, who are both Filipinos, one of whom have no travel history to any of the countries affected by COVID-19.

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On Saturday afternoon, the DOH reported the Philippines’ sixth COVID-19 case, who is the wife of the patient with no travel history, thus declaring a local transmission of the virus.

With this development, Senator Joel Villanueva said the Department of Labor and Employment should beef up its efforts in encouraging employers to finally adopt telecommuting, or work-from-home arrangements in their organizations to help prevent the COVID-19 from further spreading.

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“While it’s not for all workers because some need to be physically present in their places of work, telecommuting will also help minimize work disruption and stem the projected economic impact of the disease,” Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee.

The senator also reiterated that employers are mandated under the country’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSH) Law to maintain a “safe working environment for workers”.

“Companies are expected to vet the safety of their workplace through designated safety officers who can call for a work stoppage if an imminent danger for workers has been determined,” he said.

In the end we are after the safety of every workers and efficiency of their work - which are possible with an option to work from home.

READ: Everything you need to know about COVID-19

Source: Manila Bulletin, PNA