Private establishments may now apply for a safety certification to confirm their compliance with minimum public health standards set by the government.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said businesses bearing the safety seal assure that they are practicing the minimum health protocols, such as social distancing and the use of a contact-tracing application, particularly the StaySafe.PH application, among others.
StaySafe.PH is the country’s official health condition reporting, contact tracing, and social distancing system authorized by the Interagency Task Force on Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the National Task Force Against COVID-19.
Promote safe economy
Bello said the safety seal initiative is vital in the national goal of safely reopening the economy.
“With the safety seal certification program in place, we are assuring the public, especially our workers, that they are safe and protected outside their homes, even if we allow our economy to fully reopen,” the labor chief said.
“While the application is voluntary, I highly encourage our private business owners to seek for the safety certification to help increase public confidence,” Bello urged, further noting that obtaining the safety seal is free of charge.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will issue the certification for establishments in the manufacturing, construction, utilities, information and communication, and warehousing industries.
Other designated issuing authorities are the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, Department of Interior and Local Governance, Philippine National Police, and the different local government units.
Boost worker’s confidence
Labor Assistant Secretary and Bureau of Working Conditions Ma. Teresita Cucueco said earlier that the safety seal will also boost worker’s confidence in the safety at their workplace.
“If their companies comply with the minimum public health standards, protocols, and other requirements of the safety seal, workers would be more confident to say that ‘yes, our workplace is safe and when I go to work, I will be assured that my risk to acquire COVID will be very low,’” Cucueco said.
To ensure strict and continual compliance to health protocols, the certification will only be valid for six months from the date of its issuance—except for tourism establishments, which certifications are valid for a year—and has to be renewed a month before expiration.
Establishments who wish to apply for the safety seal certification may visit SAFETY SEAL CERTIFICATION or inquire via the DOLE Hotline 1349.
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For more information visit https://bwc.dole.gov.ph/safetyseal.
