Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma (File photo from the Facebook page of the Department of Labor and Employment)
MANILA, Philippines — Private sector workers in Metro Manila are excused from any penalty if they choose not to report to work on Monday because of torrential rains spawned by Severe Tropical Storm Egay, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
With the state weather bureau warning that Egay (international name: Doksuri) may intensify into a supertyphoon in the next few days, DOLE cited its labor advisory stating that no administrative sanction should be imposed on employees who fail or refuse to report to work due to “imminent danger resulting from weather disturbances and similar occurrences.”
“Thus they can be excused,” Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said.
“The labor advisory is still in effect so there is no need to issue another. We can just cite the advisory for the guidance of workers and employers,” he added.
Under Labor Advisory 17-22, first issued on Aug. 23, 2022, employees who do not report for work because of weather disturbances and similar occurrences are not entitled to receive pay, except when there is a favorable company policy or collective bargaining agreement.
Meanwhile, employees who report to work are entitled to full regular pay if they have rendered work for at least six hours, and to proportionate pay if they have worked for less than six hours unless there is an existing company policy more beneficial to the employee.
Contingency measure
Malacañang earlier suspended classes and government work in Metro Manila to ensure public safety during Egay’s onslaught and as a contingency measure for the public transport strike timed with President Ferdinandn Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address on Monday.
“In view of the forecast inclement weather brought about by Typhoon Egay and the scheduled 72-hour transport strike in Metro Manila, work in government offices and classes in public schools at all levels in the National Capital Region are hereby suspended on July 24,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin wrote in Memorandum Circular No. 25 issued last Friday.
Bersamin, however, said government agencies involved “in the delivery of basic health services, preparedness/response to disasters and calamities, and/or the performance of other vital services” will not be covered by the suspension.
Malacañang left it to the discretion of the private sector whether to suspend work.
Storm track
Egay was last observed at 670 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte, moving west-northwestward at 10 km per hour, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its Sunday weather bulletin.
The weather disturbance was packing sustained winds of 110 kph and gusts of up to 135 kph, the agency said.
Pagasa weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said Cagayan, the eastern portion of Isabela, Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Albay may experience heavy rain ranging from 50 to 100 millimeters on Monday.
Intense rain from 100 to 200 millimeters will prevail over Catanduanes. (See related story in Regions, Page A8.)
“Egay is still moving slowly but it will speed up from Sunday to Monday morning. The center remains at the ocean as of now and it will make landfall in the vicinity of the extreme northern Luzon on Wednesday,” said Aurelio.
It may leave the country’s area of responsibility on Friday.
Highest wind signal
The state weather bureau warned that “rapid intensification is likely within the next 72 hours due to favorable atmospheric and oceanic conditions.”
Aurelio said Egay may develop into a typhoon with winds of 118 to 185 kph by Monday and become a supertyphoon with winds of over 185 kph by Tuesday.
Pagasa may continue to issue wind signals in some areas of the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas due to localized conditions.