DOH: Quarantined health workers should get full hazard pay

MANILA, Philippines — Healthcare workers who had to undergo quarantine should still receive their hazard pay in full, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday, amid reports that benefits have been deducted from some health workers who were placed on isolation.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that under a joint memorandum by the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management, healthcare workers who had to be quarantined after exposure to a COVID-19 patient should still receive their benefits.

“Hindi po ‘yan dapat mangyari. Within our protocols and even in a DOH and DBM joint circular that was issued, sinabi dito na ang ating mga healthcare workers who are to undergo quarantine because of being exposed should still receive their benefits,” she said in an online press briefing.

(That should not happen. Within our protocols and even in a joint memorandum from the DOH and DBM, it was stated that healthcare workers who will undergo quarantine should still receive their benefits.)

“Kailangan natin pagsabihan ang mga ating hospital o ibang ahensya, na hindi po, dapat pong ibigay (We have to advise hospitals and other agencies that no, you still have to give these benefits). They still have to receive their hazard pay even when they undergo quarantine,” she added.

(FILE) FRONT-LINERS QUEUE Health workers and other frontliners fall in line to receive their COVID-19 vaccine at Emilio Aguinaldo Elementary School in Cubao, Quezon City. —RICHARD A. REYES

Vergeire pointed out that quarantine for health workers is still considered a paid time for work.

For instance, she noted that healthcare workers at the DOH who undergo quarantine but are not showing symptoms still perform limited work duties while in isolation.

“So the work is still there, so kailangan pa rin makareceive ng hazard pay ng ating healthcare workers (healthcare workers should still receive their hazard pay),” Vergeire added.

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