Labor groups slam gov鈥檛 u-turn on face shield policy in workplaces听
LABOR听GROUPS听denounced the government鈥檚 reversal of policy on the optional use of face shields, with employers now having the authority to still require it for workers within their establishments.听听听
鈥淭he policy should not give powers to employers to unjustly implement policies to the contrary. They should not be given the power to impose penalties on workers who will refuse to wear face shields,鈥澨齁ulius C. Cainglet, vice president of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), said听in a Viber message.听听
It听鈥渄efeats the purpose鈥澨齩f relaxing the face shield requirement, he said.听听听
The听inter-agency task force听handling the coronavirus response听lifted on Nov. 15 the requirement on face shields听for the general public听in areas听under听Alert Levels 1, 2, and 3.听听听听
However, acting听Presidential听Spokesman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles clarified on Nov. 19 that the听latest face shield policy听鈥渋s without prejudice to employers still requiring their use for their employees or workers and customers in their respective premises.鈥澨听
Mr. Cainglet said that听most听of their members believe that they are听鈥渕ore efficient鈥澨齱ithout face shields.听听
鈥淎 lot of our members,听especially in the manufacturing sector,听before were opposed to its use as it got in the way of their work (by) blocking their view as the face shield accumulates (moisture) or reflects light in odd angles,鈥澨齢e said.听听听
Joshua听T. Mata, secretary general of progressive labor group听SENTRO,听said the use of face shields is an听鈥渦nnecessary added expense for workers because its usefulness is doubtful.鈥澨听
A study from the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases said that face shields do not offer any additional protection from the coronavirus among the general public.听听
鈥淢alaca帽ang should no longer involve itself with (these) trivial matters (and) should instead use its time and energy to solve pressing problems in our society that it helped worsen,鈥澨齅r.听Mata said in a Viber message.听
He听suggested听that听the government听should instead听focus on policies听for providing听safe and adequate public transportation, paid quarantine leaves, and guaranteed income should workers lose their jobs.听听听听
Mr. Cainglet also said that workers should be represented in safety and health committees at the workplace听and听during听inspections by the Labor department to ensure that minimum health standards are met.听听听听
鈥淚t鈥檚 more important for workers to be able to get back to work and earn a decent income,鈥澨齢e听said.听鈥斕齊ussell Louis C. Ku听
