Labor groups urge employers to implement heat breaks amid danger level heat index

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD) are urging employers to implement heat breaks and adjusted working hours due to dangerous heat index levels.

TUCP is specifically calling for mandatory breaks during the hottest hours of the day, flexible work arrangements, and a buddy system for monitoring worker well-being.

IOHSAD also demanded immediate implementation of measures to prevent heat-related illnesses, citing serious health concerns for workers exposed to extreme heat, including informal workers.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecast that four areas in Luzon were expected to experience a "danger level" heat index, classified as 42 to 51 degrees Celsius.

Heat stress in the workplace can lead to various health issues such as dehydration, skin rash, muscle cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, nausea, headache, and weakness.

TUCP president Raymond Democrito Mendoza emphasized that these measures are vital for worker safety and productivity, not a burden, and called for immediate action.