PCCI, ECOP urge gov't to fund private employee testing

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) have called on the government to shoulder the costs of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing for private employees, citing that it is unaffordable for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

PCCI President Benedicto Yujuico stated that only large corporations can afford employee testing, while ECOP chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. noted that most companies lack the financial capacity to conduct such tests.

The government does not require companies to test employees before they return to work but recommends screening for those with symptoms or suspected cases of COVID-19.