Nagkaisa calls to grant hazard pay to heroes, volunteers in private sector now in the frontlines

As the country commemorates the day of valor of the Filipinos in 1942 today (Araw ng Kagitingan), the NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition salutes the bravery and heroism of our frontliners - health workers, pharmaceutical workers, food workers, logistical workers, utility workers, LGU workers and all those working to to keep everyone else safe from the virus.

The biggest labor coalition in the country calls on the government and the private employers that all frontliners be given hazard pay of P500.00/day or 25% of their salary, whichever is higher.

These health workers in private hospital and medical institutions are not included in the payment of hazard pay under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (RA 11469) but they also deserve such reward for risking "life and limb".

Earlier Senator Risa Hontiveros advocated the inclusion of health workers, security guards and others service workers in the private sector who actually report to work be included in the Bayanihan Bill but the same was not considered in the enrolled bill.

We call on the President and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to use their “persuasive power” to convince the managements of private institutions and companies to give hazard pay to their employees who are now in the frontlines in the fight against the coronavirus 2019.

We urge Congress to urgently act and legislate hazard pay for private sector workers for the duration of covid 19 pandemic.

NAGKAISA also asks the DOH to review the P500/day allowance of volunteer health worker as this is unfair and exploitative. Government needs to upgrade such equivalent to the salary grades (SG) of their functions, like a nurse to SG 15 to 18 or a doctor SG 21 to 24.

We will appreciate more should the President or Congress will grant a P25,000 emergency incentive to reward ALL health workers who actually reported to work in this perilous time of covid 19.

All frontline workers in the private sector also request to augment their meal allowance for a healthy and strong body as they report to work.

NAGKAISA acknowledges the heroism of trade unions, CSOs and Church workers who distribute relief goods and cash assistance to daily wage earners, drivers and other workers in the informal economy.

We likewise acknowledge that some employers are already giving hazards pay higher than what we are asking -- NAGKAISA! is grateful to them.

Last week, the president signed Administrative Order No. 26 granting government personnel who physically report for work during the implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine be entitled to hazard pay.

Ang NAGKAISA! ay saludo sa lahat ng ating mga bayani sa frontlines!