We recently spoke to Nick Sinclair from the Outsourced Accountant. When we asked him about roadblocks to setting up a business in the Philippines, he mentioned some requirements that were unclear to him. One of them was about hiring company nurses for businesses that employ over a certain number of people.
We decided to look into it and try to clear up what the requirements are on company nurses. The Department of Labor and Employment has a list of rules under the Occupational Safety and Health Standards that says that companies need to allocate manpower in order to cater to injuries and prevent diseases from spreading in the workplace. Companies need to have a Health and Safety Committee. The Committee comprises 8 or more people based on the size of the company.
The Health and Safety Committee can be categorized into 4 types with the following composition:
Type A: Companies with over 400 workers
- Chairman: Top operating official (manager)
- Members:
- Two department heads
- Four workers (union members)
- The company physician
- Secretary: The safety man
Type B: Companies having between 200 and 400 workers
- Chairman: Top operating official (manager)
- Members:
- One supervisor
- Three workers (union members)
- Company physician or company nurse
- Secretary: The safety man
Type C: Companies having between 100 and 200 workers
- Chairman: Manager or his representative
- Members:
- One foreman
- Three workers (union members)
- Company nurse
- Secretary: Part-time safety man
Type D: Companies with fewer than 100 workers
- Chairman: Manager
- Members:
- One foreman
- Three workers (union members)
- Company nurse (first aider)
- Secretary: Part-time safety man
The list above covers the minimum number of members in a committee. Companies may choose to have more members in their Health and Safety Committee.
In the Philippines, registered nurses are not hard to find. Nurses face a problem of excess supply and weak demand which is why it is hard for them to find employment in hospitals. They often work as company nurses to gain some experience before moving on to hospitals. Registered nurses can be found through regular job boards. The average salary of a registered nurse is PHP 121,651 per year. (approx. $2700USD)
In addition to following the basic requirements under the Department of Labor and Employment, having a nurse is useful in bringing down healthcare costs for the company. According to the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, employing a company nurse can bring down costs of injury and illness by up to 40%. With a nurse in the premises, employees must get their illnesses checked before they can take leave, which also reduces the propensity of fraud.
Disclaimer: As always, consult your lawyer or accountant for advice! We are here to help, but your specific situation should be reviewed by a professional with complete knowledge of your situation.