DOLE to issue El Niño labor advisories to guide employers, workers

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment is bracing for the potential impacts of El Niño on the labor force, and it plans to issue at least four labor advisories to mitigate the effects of extreme heat on workers.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino, who led the opening of the ASEAN Green Jobs Forum 2026, said they are now fine-tuning the labor advisories, but this should address potential issues that may affect employees.

“Ano yun dapat gawin ng mga employers sa uniporme, sa opisina, yung dapat na pasahod kung sakali matindi na ang El Niño,” Tolentino said.

(What employers should do about uniforms and office conditions, pay rates in case of extreme El Niño.)

One of the advisories will focus on workers’ safety amid extreme heat. Tolentino said sectors that may benefit include the construction industry and motorcycle delivery riders. 

He said he is looking at having platform operators give riders some leeway on delivery time, especially between noon and 3 p.m., when temperatures tend to be higher.

Another proposal is that the DOLE Employees Compensation Commission may compensate heat-related health cases. Tolentino said workers may file with the ECC if they get hospitalized due to health cases relating to heat.

He said workers may seek compensation for  “heat strokes, heat exhaustion, heat cramps” and similar issues linked to El Niño.

DOLE is also working with the Department of Science and Technology on a heat index alert and a temperature threshold for suspending work.