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having 12-hour shifts.
More than 75% of the respondents stated that their work equipment was
maintained, and 82.1% were adequately trained to handle the machinery. 53.8%
shared that they had workplace safety signs, and 54.8% also said that these were
prominently displayed. 75% had fire exits, extinguishers, and other safety
equipment, and most had easily accessible facilities/workplaces. However, like in
other areas, the consistency of equipment maintenance differed among the survey
participants—some had their machinery maintained daily, weekly, or monthly,
while others only did so on their initiative or when mishaps occurred. 58.1% also
reported having safety officers, with the majority stating they were properly trained.
Furthermore, 53.6% stated that management/employers had no mechanism to
warn them of workplace hazards or risks. More importantly, only 50% of the
participants knew they had the right to refuse work if they felt there were hazards
or risks to them or their colleagues. 32.3% shared that they were forced to work
anyway despite fears for their health and safety.
Crucially, 83.9% of the survey participants stated that they were not consulted or
included in the development, planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting
of OSH programs by their company management/employer. Only 25% knew they
had colleagues in their company's OSH committee. 57.1% never experienced any
labor or OSH inspection.
Labor and OSH Standards during the ECQ Period
Regarding participant experiences during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,
56.7% reported that their company/workplace had closed during the ECQ period.
43.4% of these were inactive for a year or more. At the same time, almost threequarters of the respondents were rehired once operations were restored.
Respondents also shared varying sources of support during this time. Help came
in the form of ayuda or financial assistance from NGAs, and LGUs. Some
companies provided support for their employees or paid wages in advance, but
there were cases of aid being given as loans or through wage deductions.
It is important to note that more than three-quarters of respondents (77.3%)
expressed that they could not access any form of social protection during the loss
of their livelihood during the lockdown period. Accessing social amelioration