AROUND 200,000 private sector health-care workers (HCW) are expected to get better working conditions from the proposed legislation of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which will upgrade their benefits so it will be on a par with those enjoyed by their public sector counterparts.
Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III announced on Monday he will be endorsing the bill to Malacañang so it could be certified as urgent by President Duterte.
DOLE came out with its
proposed bill, which specifically benefits entry-level private sector HCWs, after conducting stakeholder consultations.
“Anytime now we are expected to submit our recommendation to the Cabinet assistance group for them to gather or collate all this recommendation regarding the proposed bill to improve the benefits of our health-care workers in the private sector,” Bello said in an online press briefing on Monday.
Benefits disparity
Currently, HCWs, particularly nurses, earn higher in government facilities than if they work in private companies.
DOLE noted an entry-level nurse in private institutions earns an average of P9,757 per month, which is lower compared to the P13,500 in government health facilities.
The monthly pay for government nurse 1 position was adjusted last year and is now pegged at P22,316.
Some HCW groups in private health-care facilities have recently threatened to hold a “medical lockdown” unless their demand to get similar benefits provided to public sector HCWs under the Bayanihan to Recover as one Act (Bayanihan 2) are also extended to them.
These benefits include life insurance, paid residence, free transportation, free food, hazard pay, and medical allowance.
Legislation support
Bello said he is confident the legislation will still be passed into law before the end of the term of Duterte, since it is being supported by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and some lawmakers.
He added that many health-care facilities have registered more profit amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Since they have more earnings now that they have more patients, it is only fair that they should give the health-care workers in their sector the same benefits that the health- care workers in the public sector are getting since they rendered the same services,” Bello said.