DOLE sets workplace inspections at St. Luke’s hospitals

Workplace inspections have been set by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at the hospitals of St. Luke’s Medical Center to look into the private healthcare institution’s compliance with general labor standards.

DOLE on Thursday said it would send teams to inspect St. Luke’s compliance with guidelines on the employment and the working conditions of health personnel in the private healthcare industry.

These guidelines include the assurance of proper payment of wages, holiday, and night differential pays, service incentive leaves, 13th-month pay, and other leave incentives for women stated under the law, DOLE said.

“The inspection will also assess the hospital’s compliance with the normal working hours for their health care personnel and break time for meals and rest periods must be strictly observed,” the agency disclosed.

“To be looked into as well is the proper remittance of social benefits such as contributions for SSS, Pag-Ibig, and Philhealth. The team will also ensure that there are no unauthorized deductions from the hospital workers,” it added.

On the other hand, DOLE inspection teams would verify St. Luke’s compliance with occupational safety and health standards, as well as their programs to prevent the spread of various illnesses in the workplace.

“As prescribed in the labor laws, the hospital is mandated to provide their employees with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at no cost to their employees, student-trainees or interns and apprentices,” the DOLE said.

“Hospital employees are also entitled to have security of tenure, right to self-organization, and collective bargaining,” it also said.

DOLE said St. Luke’s hospitals in Quezon City and in Taguig City would undergo inspections by teams from the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) and from the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC).

INQUIRER.net tried to get the side of St. Luke’s but has yet to respond as of posting time.  /muf