NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 579
l&JI Senate
of tlir ^-rn etnrp
72 JUL14 A10 55
RECEIVED BY:
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 (COVlD-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. 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 were advised to stay home, workers in critical industries, such 
as health care workers, airport and seaport 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 was 
given to them.
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 
daily 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-
1 ABS-CBN, 150 doctors, staff at The Medical City under quarantine for COVlD-19 exposure: president, March 20, 
2020 accessible at https://news.abs-cbn.eom/news/03/20/20/150-doctors-staff-at-the-medicai-city-under- 
quarantine-for-covid-19-exposure-president {last accessed July 11,2022).


related establishments, banks and other financial institutions providing money transfer 
services, groceries, supermarket, and convenience stores, logistics and warehouse 
establishments, and civil aviation and maritime transport 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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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 5
iKfl Senate
of tbc ^('rrerai7>
•22 JUL14 A10 56
RECEIVtO BY:
c:79
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 enected by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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, who are exposed to 
greater danger, contagion, radiation, virus, disease, or peril from natural calamities, 
such as volcanic activity/eruption and typhoons:
a)
b)
c)
d)
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;


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Public markets;
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 prescribe;
Mass public transportation companies;
Civil aviation and maritime transport related companies; and
Such other establishments which may be considered critical in light of the nature
of the state of calamity or emergency or public health concern.
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 who actually rendered 
service during the state of calamity or emergency or public health emergency, shall be 
compensated with hazard allowances equivalent to at least twenty-five percent (25%) 
of their respective daily 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. Implementing Rules and Guidelines. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in 
consultation with the 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 adiiiinistrative 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 the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,