THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reminded employers in the Zamboanga Peninsula to submit establishment report forms pursuant to Labor Advisory No. 17-A or the Guidelines on Employment Preservation.
Lawyer Roy Buenafe, DOLE regional director, said in a statement that employers must accomplish establishment report form, known as the RKS Form 5 of 2020, if they are adopting Flexible Work Arrangements or if they are to temporarily or permanently close or on a reduced workforce.
Buenafe added that employers whose business operations are allowed to operate or resume must observe the minimum health standards at all times pursuant to the DOLE and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
He said that to preserve the employment of workers, employers may adopt work-from-home arrangements as opposed to terminating their employees.
He said that any of the following may be adopted: transfer of employees to another branch or outlet of the same employer or another position or function, reduction of normal workdays per day or week and by job rotation.
He said establishments may also opt to partially close some units or departments while other units remain open.
He said that these schemes are temporary and shall be adopted as long as the public health crisis exists. (SunStar Zamboanga)