DOLE sets rules on free Covid testing for newly-hired workers

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued guidelines for the free coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing for newly-hired workers.

“This order is issued to provide guidelines on the one-time grant of free Covid-19 testing for qualified newly-hired job seekers required to secure a negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) result among the pre-employment requirements,” the agency said in Department Order No. 233 signed by Secretary Silvestre Bello III and released on Thursday.

Qualified beneficiaries are newly hired job seekers across all sectors complying with the pre-employment requirements to avail of the testing subsidy.

Aside from newly hired applicants in private domestic establishments, those who are also covered by the order are agency-hired overseas workers set for deployment; and newly appointed employees in any branch or instrumentality of the government.

“The program shall cover job seekers hired after the effectivity of this order, and jobseekers employed beginning February 1, 2022, yet to assume position due to lack of negative RT-PCR test result,” it said.

Not covered by the program are foreigners except Persons of Concern (POCs).

Applicants must present the following documentary requirements: photocopy of any valid government-issued ID, duly accomplished subsidy application form and certificate of engagement, acceptance, or appointment as the case may be, duly signed by the following: establishment owner, general manager, or human resource manager, in case of private domestic establishments and recruitment agencies deploying workers overseas; or head of agency’s human resource office or the head of the agency where the item is, in case of government branch or instrumentality.

Newly-hired employees shall submit the complete documentary requirements to the nearest DOLE field office which will then evaluate the application within three working days from receipt thereof, and endorse the pre-evaluated applications to the concerned regional office for final approval/denial.

The DOLE Regional Office shall notify the applicant within five working days whether the application is approved or denied through e-mail or text message.

Once approved, the electronic mail shall include the information that the beneficiary shall present to the testing center (i.e. reference number, date and time, and place of testing).

The DOLE has allocated PHP100 million for the project to be sourced from the 2022 national budget.