The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that “an employee may refuse to report for work if still required to do, amid the implementation of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon”.

Based on the report of the GMA News reporter Cedric Castillohe shared on his Twitter account that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that absences shall not reflect on the employees’ performance assessment. Also, these shall not be automatically deducted from the workers’ leave credits.

secretary Bello says that “Hindi, bawal iyon. Nasa empleyado ang pasya kung gagamitin ang leave credits niya,”

Regardless if she or he is regular or contractual, the employee will decide if she refuses to use his or her leave credits, the no work, no pay shall apply.

Bello restates the government’s appeal to companies to still give salary to their employees despite his or her absences.

He said, “Pero nananawagan ang pamahalaan sa malalaking kumpanya sa panahong ito na paswelduhin pa rin ang mga empleyado kahit hindi pumapasok due to extraordinary times. Some big companies are already doing this,”

“Work from home arrangements should be discussed and agreed upon by both the employers and employees”.

Luzon has been placed under enhanced community quarantine due to the (COVID-19) threat.

Establishments, except those who offer medical and other essential services, were ordered to be temporarily closed. Also, mass transportation systems have been shut down, which makes it more challenging for workers that are exempted from the quarantine to reach their offices conveniently.

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