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Republic of the Philippines : wy
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES &y
Quezon City RS,

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

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Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8053

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This proposed measure seeks to provide hazard pay to hospital support staff (such as sanitation
workers, institutional workers, janitors, security guards, equipment and building maintenance
staff) employed in public hospitals who are directly in contact with COVID-19 patients. Under this
measure, they are entitled to an additional compensation which should not exceed twenty-five
percent (25%) of their daily wage effective March 17, 2020.

This measure is proposed in recognition of the valuable contribution of hospital support staff in
our nation’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. As numerous measures have already been
filed in recognition of the role of medical and allied medical frontliners, I believe it is only fitting
that we also acknowledge the work of hospital support frontliners, whose work also largely
contributes to our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering that most hospital support
staff earn minimum wages, despite the significance of their work, I believe that it is important
that they are given adequate support and commensurate compensation for the functions they
perform and the risk they encounter on a daily basis.

On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House sit no, 8053

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
GRANTING HAZARD PAY TO SUPPORT WORKERS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS DURING
THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AS DECLARED IN PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION
NO. 1021 S. 2020 AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted 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 Support Workers in
Public Hospitals Act’,

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby a declared policy of the State that it shall protect
the rights of workers and promote their welfare. Furthermore, the State recognizes that the
COVID-19 pandemic is a national health emergency that has negatively impacted all its citizens
especially the poor and the marginalized.

In [ine with this, the State shall ensure that just and equitable compensation be provided to all
workers similarly situated.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(a) “Support workers" refer to sanitation workers, housekeepers, food servers, institutional
workers, janitors, security guards, equipment and building maintenance staff employed
or deployed in public hospitals;

(b) "Hazard pay" refers to the additional compensation paid to employees who are working
under hazardous conditions or in extreme physical discomfort or distress;

(©) "Public hospitals" refer to a hospital owned, operated or funded by the State, which may
outsource the work performed by the hospital support workers to a non-government
third-party agency; and

(d) "Health emergency" refers to the covid-19 pandemic as declared in Presidential
Prociamation No. 1021, series of 2020.

Sec. 4. Grant of the Covid-19 Hazard Pay. — All support workers as defined in Section 3 of
this Act, employed or assigned in public hospitals, who are directly catering to or in contact with


Covid-19 patients are entitled to the grant of Covid-19 hazard pay during the state of national
emergency as declared by the President: Provided, That such support workers include those
employed by contract of service agencies and assigned to a public hospital.

Hospital support workers who are already entitled to hazard pay, hazardous duty pay, hazard
allowance or other similar benefits under existing laws, issuances, rules, and regulations shall
continue to be entitled to such benefits or the Covid-19 hazard pay provided in this Act, whichever
is higher.

Sec. 5. Rate of Hazard Pay. - The rate of the hazard pay shall not be more than twenty-five
percent (25%) of the daily salary rate received by the hospital support worker, subject to
availability of funds. The hazard pay shall be based on the number of days the support worker
physically reports to work in the Covid-19 section of the hospital during the national health
emergency.

Sec. 6. Appropriations, — For 2020, the funds needed for the grant of the Covid-19 hazard pay
authorized in this Act shall be charged against any savings of the National Government or the
Contingent Fund under the General Appropriations Act for 2020, upon approval of the President
of the Philippines: Provided, That government hospitals may also grant such hazard pay using
their available Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOQE) allotments without need for
prior authority from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM): Provided, further, That
all mandatory expenses shall have been paid first.

For 2021, such amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be Included in the 2021
General Appropriations Act.

Hospitals run by the local government units may grant hazard pay in accordance with this Act
chargeable against available local funds.

Sec, 7. Retroactive Application. — The grant of the Covid-19 hazard pay shall be effective
beginning March 17, 2020.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof be declared
invalid, the other provisions, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in
full force and effect.

Sec. 9, Repealing Ciause. — All laws, decrees, letters of instruction, resolutions, orders or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or
amended accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in any national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,