Hontiveros calls for urgent granting of hazard pay for COVID-19 frontliners

Senator Risa Hontiveros called on the urgent grant of hazard pay for health workers, government employees, military and police, security personnel, service workers and other workers on the frontline in the efforts to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Every day, our health workers and other heroes from the public and private sector make great sacrifices as they work in the frontlines to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Let us thank and help them by making sure they receive proper compensation due their efforts,” Hontiveros said.
The lawmaker emphasized the sacrifices that the health workers and other frontliners are doing to stop the spread of the dreaded virus, Manila Bulletin reported.
“Our health professionals and other frontliners in the fight against COVID-19 do not only need additional face masks and protective wear, they also need additional take home pay commensurate to their extreme stress and risks they need to bear and face,” she said.
READ ALSO: Luzon-wide community quarantine to take effect beginning March 17
The lawmaker cited the Republic Act 7305 or the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, doctors, nurses and other health workers in the public sector during a state of calamity or emergency must receive an additional hazard pay which can be as much as 25 percent of their monthly basic salary, subject to their salary grade.
Hontiveros also urged government to give hazard pay to government workers and uniformed personnel tasked to ensure public order and key public services during the enhanced community quarantine.
Although there’s no legislation that obliges the private sector to give hazard pay, the solon also appealed on employers to “take the initiative in providing additional pay,” to security guards, bank tellers, cashiers, media workers, shopping attendances, restaurant waiters and hotel staff.
“Without our underappreciated security guards, shopping attendants, cashiers and other workers providing basic services, life in the metro as we know it would grind to a halt,” she stressed.
SEE ALSO: PH gov’t unveils Php27.1B fund to fight COVID-19 epidemic