Emergency medical services for employees

Emergency medical services for employees "I am working as an inventory clerk in a garments company located in Quezon City. Our company has only 60 employees. Are we entitled to any emergency medical services when inside the company premises under the law? JessicaDear Jessica, To answer your question, we shall refer to Book Four (Health, Safety and Social Welfare Benefits), Chapter 1 (Medical and Dental Services) of the Labor Code of the Philippines, to wit:“Article 157. Emergency medical and dental services. It shall be the duty of every employer to furnish his employees in any locality with free medical and dental attendance and facilities consisting of: “(a) The services of a full-time registered nurse when the number of employees exceeds 50 but not more than 200 except when the employer does not maintain hazardous work places, in which case the services of a graduate first-aider shall be provided for the protection of the workers, where no registered nurse is available.xxx “In cases of hazardous work places, no employer shall engage the services of a physician or dentist who cannot stay in the premises of the establishment for at least two hours, in the case of those engaged on part-time basis, and not less than eight hours in the case of those employed on full-time basis. Where the undertaking is non-hazardous in nature, the physician and dentist may be engaged on retained basis, subject to such regulations as the Secretary of Labor and Employment may prescribe to ensure immediate availability of medical and dental treatment and attendance in case of emergency.“xxx.” (Emphases supplied)Applying the aforementioned provision of the Labor Code in your question, you are all entitled to the services of a full-time registered nurse except when your company is not considered as a hazardous work place, in which case the services of a graduate first-aider shall be provided for the protection of the workers, where no registered nurse is available.Furthermore, the said law provides that in cases of hazardous work places, no employer shall engage the services of a physician or dentist who cannot stay in the premises of the establishment for at least two hours, in the case of those engaged on part-time basis, and not less than eight hours in the case of those employed on full-time basis except where the undertaking is non-hazardous in nature, the physician and dentist may be engaged on retained basis, subject to such regulations as the Secretary of Labor and Employment may prescribe to ensure immediate availability of medical and dental treatment and attendance in case of emergency. We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to dearpao@manilatimes.net" - https://www.affordablecebu.com/