The Needed Hazard Pay for Garbage Collectors in Battling COVID-19 Daily

Garbage collectors risk their life by battling COVID-19

Last updated on May 7th, 2021 at 09:11 am

The sacrifices that physicians, nurses and other first responders in the Philippines are working well to care for people with Coronavirus have earn outpouring recognition and gratitude. But another group of employees who endanger their safety in carrying out their duties during the COVID-19 pandemic is not receiving nearly as much attention: the garbage collectors of the country.

As frontlines of the environmental sector in the country’s concerted efforts to avoid and regulate COVID-19, EcoWaste emphasized that garbage collectors are entitled to hazard compensation which is irrespective of their job status because of the risks they pose in the operation of critical waste management services, which can be deemed dangerous, especially in the exceptional circumstances brought on by coronavirus.

Without their invaluable operation, the country will face even more hazards to the environment and safety from uncollected waste.

The EcoWaste appealed to the government officials to use moral suasion to actively persuade garbage collector employers to approve this.

In fact, the amount of hazardous waste being disposed of by hospitals, as well as the absence of laws that instruct Filipinos on how their garbage should be properly disposed of, made the hazard pay appropriate.

The EcoWaste appealed to the government officials to use moral suasion to actively persuade garbage collector employers to approve this. To further loosen limitations on the use of urban government funds to allow LGUs the freedom to make sufficient hazard fees to garbage collectors servicing their areas during the ECQ.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Achilles Gerard Bravo stated that institutional COS (work contract) such as garbage collectors from companies employed by LGUs, are not treated as government workers because they are continually viewed as employees of the contractor or service provider.

Along with this, the group emphasized that the introduction of hazard compensation for garbage collectors is a way to appreciate their valuable role in waste management in the light of elevated safety threats related to COVID-19.

Thinking about their daily routine, risking their lives everyday, roaming around baranggays and going through a lot of interaction with people is never easy.

As much as they needed protection gears to be sure that they can keep themselves from they virus, these people deserve the hazard pay to honor their unwaverinf hardwork for the country.

Doing a good job is not always about impressive innovation. Sometimes it is only about doing something with plain dedication. Well done, Garbage Collecters. You’re all real time heroes!

Click for more Coronavirus updates: https://www.theasianaffairs.com/philippines/2020/04/25/cebus-shocking-discovery-63-more-inmates-in-cebu-jail-tested-positive/