MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday called for the granting of hazard pay for “frontliners” in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) such as health workers, government employees, and military and police, among others. Citing the Republic Act 7305 or the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, Hontiveros said that health workers in the public sector whose work exposes them to “danger, occupational risks and perils to life” must receive additional hazard pay. This hazard pay, Hontiveros said, can be as high as 25 percent of their monthly basic salary, depending on their pay grade. “Agaran sanang maibigay ang hazard pay sa ating mga public health workers (Hopefully we can immediately give this hazard pay to our public health workers). Likewise, Hontiveros said government employees who are also exposed to the dangers of COVID-19 should also be given hazard pay.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 16, 2020 03:22 UTC