Trade, Labor: No mandatory swab tests for all priority workers

The Trade and Labor departments issued an advisory clarifying that businesses are not required to regularly test all workers in priority industries for COVID-19.

Priority workers may undergo RT-PCR tests if they show symptoms, but asymptomatic employees do not need testing.

A previous circular requiring regular testing has been revised.

Workers in hospitality, tourism, and manufacturing sectors, as well as frontliners and economic priority employees, should receive free swab tests under a new Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 20-04 issued by the DTI and DOLE on August 15.