DOLE Orders All Workers To Wear Face Shields

Wearing of face shields on top of face masks will be mandatory in workplaces starting on Saturday to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said yesterday.

- Neil Jayson Servallos

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued the announcement on the sidelines of a government event in Antipolo, Rizal, where he revealed the new guideline agreed upon by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“Based on a resolution of the IATF, not only would workers be required to use face masks, but also face shields. That’s the new protocol,” Bello told journalists.

He said employers should provide workers with face shields: “You only have to buy it once and it doesn’t cost that much.”

Although penalties for noncompliance will not be harsh, Bello said employers would be held administratively liable if their offices would not observe the new rule.

Employees who have no face shields would be denied entry.

“We will not suspend or close the company. They will be reminded of the health protocol. It’s excessive to shutter them, it would affect the employees. If there are no offices, there would be no jobs,” Bello said.