Higher hazard pay for health workers urged

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has appealed to the government to provide additional hazard pay to health workers handling coronavirus infections.

RITM director Celia Carlos noted that such a move was more than welcome.

“That will be good, but it’s not within my power to determine if it should be given. But if that is recommended, I’m sure all of us will welcome that, especially from RITM and San Lazaro Hospital,”she said on Monday.

“We have a standard hazard pay in government, but there are more people who are exposed to more hazards than others, but they receive the same remunerations,” she pointed out.—Julie M. Aurelio