Labor Department mandates heat safety rules for delivery platform workers

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has directed delivery platforms to establish safety protocols protecting riders from hazardous heat conditions, including the authority to suspend operations when temperatures reach dangerous levels.

Labor Advisory No. 20, Series of 2026, signed by Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on October 27, establishes mandatory safety measures for employers operating in the delivery sector. The guidelines require companies to monitor weather conditions and implement heat mitigation strategies to protect worker welfare during peak temperature periods.

Under the new directive, delivery platforms must provide appropriate safety equipment and establish protocols for suspending or limiting deliveries when heat index levels pose significant health risks. The advisory sets out specific responsibilities for employers to ensure rider safety while maintaining service continuity during manageable conditions.

The measure addresses growing concerns over occupational health hazards faced by delivery workers, who remain exposed to the elements during their shifts. Labor officials emphasized that worker safety must take precedence as the country experiences increasingly intense heat conditions.

The guidelines represent the government's effort to balance industry operations with worker protection, establishing clear standards for when platforms must prioritize safety over service delivery during extreme weather events.