Delivery riders and motorcycle taxi drivers must be allowed to take safety breaks, access drinking water and stop working when extreme heat threatens their health under new guidelines issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Labor Advisory 22, series of 2026, signed by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino, requires digital labor platforms, delivery and logistics companies, employers and other covered entities to adopt measures against occupational heat stress, particularly during El Niño and other periods of extreme temperatures.
The guidelines direct companies to conduct Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC) along delivery routes and establish safety measures based on heat index levels, actual working conditions, travel duration, access to drinking water, and the availability of cooling and shelter facilities.
Covered entities must inform riders of prevailing heat index levels and provide free drinking water, shaded rest areas, hydration and cooling breaks, appropriate protective equipment and first aid.
They must also reduce, reschedule or suspend delivery assignments when extreme heat presents serious risks, depending on the applicable heat index category.
For emergencies, platforms and employers are required to maintain round-the-clock assistance channels and accessible SOS functions.
Riders showing serious symptoms of heat-related illness must receive immediate assistance and cannot be required to finish their deliveries before seeking help.
The advisory also prohibits companies from penalizing riders who take safety breaks, change routes or cancel deliveries because of unsafe heat conditions.
Prohibited penalties include deductions, lower ratings or incentives, restrictions on access to assignments, account suspensions or deactivations, and other forms of punishment.
Beyond immediate safety measures, companies must provide heat-safety training, enroll riders in the Social Security System and maintain records of work-related heat illnesses.
They must also submit a Work Accident/Illness Report to the concerned DOLE regional office when occupational incidents result in hospitalization, permanent disability or death.
DOLE warned that entities violating the guidelines may face appropriate administrative sanctions and penalties under applicable laws.
📷 Media courtesy of ABS-CBN News
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