Question & AnswerQ&A (DOLE DEPARTMENT ADVISORY NO. 05)
The guideline applies to all workplaces in the private sector including their supply chain.
Yes, it is mandatory for all private workplaces to have a policy on Hepatitis B and to implement a workplace program.
Yes, the Hepatitis B workplace policy and program may be either separate from or integrated into existing occupational safety and health policies such as the Family Welfare Program or Labor Management Cooperation Program.
The policy prohibits any form of discrimination against workers based on their Hepatitis B status, consistent with international agreements such as ILO Convention 111.
Employers are encouraged to provide Hepatitis B immunization for all workers, but it is required for occupations with a conceivable risk of transmission like healthcare workers.
Workers and job applicants shall not be compelled to disclose their Hepatitis B status; access to such information is limited to authorized medical personnel and is bound by confidentiality rules.
No, screening for Hepatitis B as a pre-requisite to employment shall not be mandatory.
Employers must develop, implement, fund, and monitor the workplace policy; provide education and personal protective equipment; ensure non-discrimination; maintain confidentiality of health data; and periodically review the policy with worker representatives.
A Hepatitis B positive worker shall not be declared unfit to work without appropriate medical evaluation and counseling, shall not be terminated based on their status, and shall be reasonably accommodated in the workplace.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) together with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units, and Bureau of Working Conditions oversee and monitor the implementation.