LABOR Secretary Silvestre Bello III bared that in 2018, 97.4 percent or 57,837 private establishments out of the 59,380 inspected across the country are now drug-free and compliant to the Department Order No. 53-03.
“In support of this objective, we have required all establishments to adapt the drug-free workplace policy and programs pursuant to the Department Order Number 53-03 or called the Guidelines of the Implementation of a Drug-Free Workplace policies and programs only for the private sectors,” Bello said during the Rehabinasyon: The First National Anti-Drugs Summit at Marco Polo Hotel Davao on Sunday.
Based on the data from the Bureau of Working Conditions, there is a large percentage of establishments that adhere to the Department Order of Dole with the highest compliance rate of 100 percent in Caraga Region. Other regions that posted high compliance rate were Cordillera Administrative Region, Western Visayas, Ilocos Region, Bicol Region, Southern Tagalog, National Capital Region, Mimaropa, and Davao Region.
Under the DO 53-03, employers are required to conduct drug testing for its employees for cause testing and post-accident testing. Should their employees were found positive for drug use, they shall be referred for treatment and/or rehabilitation in a Department of Health accredited center.
It also include that the drug-free workplace program of the company must have advocacy, education, and training; drug testing program for officers and employees; treatment, rehabilitation and referral; and monitoring and evaluation.
“This is not about a company apprehending employees using drugs but preventing employee drug use in every workplace. That is why the drug testing is the company’s legal and moral obligation to keep his workplace a safe and healthy environment for all its employees including its customers and clients,” Bello added.
Pursuant to our Department Order 53-03, the Bureau of Labor Relations regularly conducts anti-drugs abuse and general labor standard seminar for Union leaders and employers.
He further said that his department also provides assistance for those who will undergo rehabilitation under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program and Emergency Employment Programs (DILEEP).
For the year 2016 to 2018, there are a total of 692 drug sureenderers of which 66 are female who were provided with livelihood assistance amounting to P6.464 million. Majority of the beneficiaries came from Bicol Region.