V-
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1453
\ Senate
ot tljc
20 APR 27
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT GRANTING HAZARD PAY TO WORKERS IN CRITICAL 
INDUSTRIES DURING A STATE OF CALAMITY OR EMERGENCY 
OR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
On March 20, 2020, it was reported that 150 doctors and staff of a private 
hospital was placed under quarantine due to their exposure to severe acute 
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), the virus which causes the 
coronavirus disease (COVID-19).1 The following day or on March 21, 2020, a 
doctor tending to a patient infected with SARC-COV-2 died.
COVID-19 was declared by the World Health Organization as a public health 
emergency of international concern as early as January 30, 2020. As of 4:00 PM of 
March 21, 2020, a total of 307 patients in the Philippines have been confirmed 
positive with COVID-19.2 As of the same date, it has also infected 284,566 persons 
in 166 countries all over the world.3
Meanwhile, due to the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 patients, the 
Philippines was placed under enhanced community quarantine as of midnight of 
March 17, 2020. However, even while most people are advised to stay home, 
workers in critical industries, such as health care workers, airport personnel, grocery 
store staff, among others, continue to report to work to provide essential services to 
those in need. But despite the increased risk to their lives, no appropriate additional 
compensation is given to them.
1 2020, March 20. 150 doctors, staff at The Medical City under quarantine for COVID-19 exposure: president. 
ABS-CBN. Available at https://news.abs-cbn.eom/news/03/20/20/150-doctors-staff-at-the-medical-city-under- 
quarantine-for-covid-19-exposure-president (date last accessed: March 21, 2020).
2 Updates on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). DOH. Available at https://www.doh.gov.ph/2019-nCoV (date last 
accessed: March 21, 2020).
3 Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases. Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. Available at 
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html (date last accessed: March 21, 2020).


This bill seeks to recognize the hard work and the invaluable service rendered 
by these workers in critical industries by mandating that they are given hazard pay 
for the duration of a state of calamity, emergency or public health emergency, such 
as the COVID-19 pandemic. The hazard pay shall be equivalent to at least 25% of 
the basic salary of the affected worker. Workers in critical industries refer to workers 
in establishments, such as Hospitals, sanitaria, rural health units, main health 
centers, health infirmaries, barangay health stations, clinics, laboratories, and other 
health-related establishments, banks and other financial institutions providing money 
transfer services, groceries, supermarket, and convenience stores, logistics and 
warehouse establishments, and civil-aviation related companies, among others, who 
are exposed greater danger, contagion, radiation, virus, disease, or peril from natural 
calamities, such as volcanic activity/eruption and typhoons.
Given the extraordinary and invaluable service of these workers in critical 
times, such as what we are facing today with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is just and 
right that we give them proper benefits.
Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
Senate
(©tfier of t()f &ecri'tni‘j’
SENATE 
S. B. no1453
20 APR 27
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT GRANTING HAZARD PAY TO WORKERS IN CRITICAL 
INDUSTRIES DURING A STATE OF CALAMITY OR EMERGENCY OR
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembied:
SECTION. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Hazard Pay for Workers 
in Critical Industries Act.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall promote the protection of all 
workers and ensure their health and safety during a state of calamity or emergency 
or public health emergency concern. Towards this end, workers in critical industries 
shall be provided with additional benefit for the duration of these events, taking into 
account the nature of their functions and exposure to various hazards by reason of 
their functions.
SEC. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all workers in critical industries in the 
private sector.
For the purposes of this Act, “workers in critical industries” refers to workers in critical 
establishments, such as, but not limited to, the following:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Hospitals, sanitaria, rural health units, main health centers, health infirmaries, 
barangay health stations, clinics, laboratories, and other health-related 
establishments:
Morgues and mortuaries;
Banks and other financial institutions providing money transfer services; 
Groceries, supermarket, and convenience stores;
Public markets;


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Pharmacies or drugstores, or similar establishments authorized to dispense 
medicines:
Restaurants;
Logistics and warehouse establishments:
Food and medical manufacturing establishments:
Telecommunications companies;
Mass media companies, with respect to their reporters and similar personnel in­
charge of delivering news;
Electric generation, transmission and distribution companies;
Gasoline stations;
Oil companies, with respect to their tanker drivers;
Water distribution companies, including water delivery and refilling stations; 
Companies engaged in sanitation, such as garbage collectors:
Companies involved in the Philippine capital market, such as the Philippine 
Stock Exchange and Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corporation, among 
others:
Hotels and similar establishments, upon such terms and conditions as the 
appropriate agencies overseeing the calamity, disaster or public health 
emergency prescribes:
Mass public transportation companies;
Civil aviation-related companies; and
Such other establishments which may considered critical in light of the nature of 
the state of calamity or emergency or public health concern.
who are exposed to greater danger, contagion, radiation, virus, disease, or peril from 
natural calamities, such as volcanic activity/eruption and typhoons.
For the avoidance of doubt, workers of third party service contractors, such as 
security guards and janitors, who are deployed to any of the foregoing 
establishments shall also receive the benefit provided under this Act for the duration 
of the calamity, emergency or public health emergency.
SEC. 4. Hazard Pay. - When a state of calamity or emergency or a public health 
emergency, as defined under Republic Act No. 11332 otherwise known as the 
Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health 
Concern, has been declared, workers in critical industries shall be compensated 
with hazard allowances equivalent to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of their 
respective monthly basic salary for the duration thereof
SEC. 5. Non-Diminution of Benefits. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
diminish existing benefits under present laws, company policies, and collective 
bargaining agreements.
SEC. 6. Impiementing Rules and Guidelines. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Labor and Employment, in consultation with 
appropriate government agencies and other relevant stakeholders, shall formulate 
the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provisions of this Act that may be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other


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portions and provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can 
still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and 
administrative regulations, or any parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby revoked, repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) national papers of general circulation or in the Official 
Gazette.
Approved,