Workers say no to air purifiers

A LABOR organization is appealing to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to reconsider the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 41-2021 which requires employees of air-conditioned and poorly ventilated establishments that are allowed to operate under general community quarantine (GCQ) to wear air purifiers.

Partido ng Manggagawa-Cebu spokesman Dennis Derige said they will write to Garcia by Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.

Derige said other labor unions in Cebu support their call including the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, the National Confederation of Transport Workers Union, and the Ilaw at Buklod Ng Manggagawa.

Derige said Garcia’s directive was an “additional burden” to minimum wage earners who instead of paying for expensive air purifiers can just use the money for food, medicines, or even for their face mask and face shield supply.

He said Garcia did not consult workers’ unions before coming out with the policy which greatly affects them.

Derige also noted that there has yet been no scientific evidence on the effectiveness of air purifiers in fighting against the Covid-19.

Garcia, earlier, said she required the use of air purifiers as an extra protective measure for workers because they are often exposed to other people.

The Department of Health, though, has not recommended the use of air purifiers and its use is not included in the Philippine Covid-19 Living Clinical Practice Guidelines. (WBS)