Workers’ Group Calls On Businesses To Implement Heat Risk Action Plan

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) called on employers to come up with and implement a "heat risk action plan" in workplaces as extreme heat continues to heavily impact the country.

A farmer soldiers under scorching conditions. I Photo: Department of Agriculture Philippines

The group emphasized that business establishments must protect the health and well-being of workers from heat exhaustion.

“It is our shared moral responsibility, not only of workers who toil day in and day out not only at work but also in commuting to and from work, but also of the employers, to beat the heat together through proactive precautionary and quick response measures,” the labor group stressed.

The TUCP forwarded a number of proposed measures, which include the provision of “heat breaks,” particularly for outdoor workers during the hottest hours of the day, such as from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the practice of a "buddy system" for workers to regularly check on each other’s well-being; and “hydration reminders” to regularly advise workers to drink adequate water even before they feel thirsty.

The group also pushed for better ventilation in workplaces, such as opening windows and adding electric fans, especially in manufacturing and industrial settings.

“We call for social dialogues among workers and employers, through the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Committee in every workplace, to prioritize measures that will be part and parcel of their Heat Risk Action Plan,” the TUCP underscored.

The TUCP noted that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has been cautioning the public to take precautionary measures as heat index levels reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher in various areas.

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