Lapid wants 28 paid quarantine leave benefits per year for eligible workers

(FILE) PPE FACTORY INSPECTION–Workers rush to finish PPE suits at a factory in Cavite province./MARIANNE BRRMUDEZ/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Lito Lapid has filed a bill seeking 28 paid quarantine leave benefits per year for qualified workers in the public and private sectors.

“Napakahirap at delikado ng panahon natin ngayon pero marami pa rin sa atin ang sumasabak sa panganib para lamang makapagtrabaho. Pero ang masaklap para sa ating mga masisipag at matatapang na manggagawa, oras na tamaan sila ng sakit gaya na lamang ng COVID-19, ‘di lamang sila gagastos sa pagpapa-ospital at pagbili ng gamot, ang ilan pa sa kanila ay walang sweldong matatanggap o nauubos ang leave dahil kanilang mag-quarantine,” Lapid said in a statement Thursday.

(These times are difficult and dangerous but many people still take a risk in getting to work. What’s worse for our hardworking and courageous workers is that when COVID-19 infects them, they will not only pay for hospitalization and medicines, some of them will have no salaries or use up their leaves because they need to go on quarantine.)

Under Senate Bill No. 2404, introduced by Lapid, the 28 paid quarantine leave benefits yearly will be equivalent to the daily wage rate of workers.

The people eligible for the benefit would be any worker, regardless of employment status, who would be “exposed to or be infected with a highly contagious disease or dangerous chemical which would require quarantine for a certain period to prevent its spread to the public as may be determined by the competent government authority.”

The employer will shoulder the payment of the said leaves and the Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System will reimburse the employer for the payment.

Should an employer fail to grant the benefit, he/she will be made to pay P30,000 to P200,000 in fines.

The bill added: “If the act or omission penalized by this Act was committed by an association, partnership, corporation or any other institution, its managing head, directors or partners shall be held liable to the penalties provided by this Act.”

Further, Lapid noted that aside from the quarantine leaves, other benefits such as sick leaves and hazard pay should remain.

“Pero sinisiguro na ang panukalang ito ay hindi lamang para sa ikabubuti ng mga empleyado kung hindi para din sa mga employers at sa buong bansa lalu’t napatunayan natin na ang mga nakahahawang sakit gaya ng COVID-19 ay lubhang nakasama sa ating ekonomiya kaya dapat lang na may handa tayong benepisyo na ibibigay sa mga tatamaan nito habang nasa trabaho,” he said.

(I assure you that this measure will not only help employees but also employers and the country since we know that COVID-19 harshly hit the economy. That is why we should have a benefit for those who will be affected while working.)

Other senators like Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Leila de Lima have also filed various bills providing workers with additional benefits.

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