DOLE’s 2026 Air-Quality Advisory: What Philippine Employers Should Prepare
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued Labor Advisory No. 15, Series of 2026 on protecting private-sector workers from hazardous air quality. The advisory, signed on 18 September 2026, asks employers to approach environmental air pollution as an occupational safety and health risk that requires preparation, monitoring, and proportionate controls.
Employers should conduct Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Control (HIRAC) procedures using the Air Quality Index Matrix and Action Points issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Health. The assessment should reflect the actual location and nature of the work, including outdoor duties, ventilation, worker vulnerability, and the length and intensity of exposure.
When conditions become hazardous, appropriate measures may include monitoring official air-quality announcements, supplying suitable personal protective equipment, improving indoor airflow and ventilation, temporarily limiting outdoor activities, and informing workers of the relevant health risks. The HIRAC should be updated when air quality, workplace conditions, or employee exposure materially changes.
For extremely hazardous conditions, DOLE advises employers to consider flexible-work arrangements. If conditions worsen, suspension of non-essential work or other protective arrangements may be necessary. Businesses should document the assessment and decision-making process, coordinate with safety personnel, and communicate instructions consistently to workers and supervisors.
The official release is available from DOLE. Companies establishing or operating in the Philippines may also review our Company Formation and Business Registration support. This overview is general information; workplace measures must be tailored to the applicable facts and official advisories.
