DOLE heat-stress rules under Labor Advisory No. 20, s. 2026: what employers and delivery platforms must do at each heat index level

DOLE Heat-Stress Rules 2026: What Employers and Delivery Platforms Must Do at Each Heat Index Level

Published: October 27, 2026 ·
by

Updated October 27, 2026

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued Labor Advisory No. 20, Series of 2026, the guidelines on preventing and managing heat stress in workplaces during El Niño and other periods of extreme heat. Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino signed the advisory on October 27, 2026. It covers employers and workers in the private sector, including project sites, where workers face actual or expected heat stress (Inquirer; Daily Tribune).

The rules are tied to the heat index: the hotter it feels, the more an employer must do. Delivery platforms are covered too, with added protections for riders (Inquirer).

Key facts at a glance

  • Issuance: DOLE Labor Advisory No. 20, s. 2026, signed October 27, 2026
  • Covers: private-sector employers and workers, including project sites and delivery platforms
  • Basis: four heat index categories, from Caution (27°C) to Extreme Danger (52°C and above)
  • At 42°C to 51°C: flexible work arrangements or telecommuting
  • At 52°C and above: work may be suspended, relocated, rescheduled or substantially modified

What employers must do at each heat index level

Under the advisory, employers must apply control measures based on four heat index categories (Daily Tribune; Inquirer):

Caution (27°C to 32°C)

  • Adequate drinking water
  • Shaded or ventilated work and rest areas
  • Light-colored, breathable clothing allowed
  • Hydration reminders
  • Training on heat stress awareness, early symptoms and first aid

Extreme Caution (33°C to 41°C)

  • Structured work, rest and hydration cycles (regular rest and hydration breaks)
  • Designated cool-down areas
  • Peer monitoring among workers
  • Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Strenuous tasks scheduled during cooler hours
  • Immediate access to trained occupational safety and health (OSH) first-aiders

Danger (42°C to 51°C)

  • Flexible work arrangements or telecommuting to limit heat exposure

Extreme Danger (52°C and above)

  • Work may be halted, suspended, relocated, rescheduled or substantially modified if the risks cannot be safely controlled or pose an immediate threat

Rules for delivery platforms and riders

Delivery platforms follow the same heat index tiers. At 27°C to 32°C, they must provide drinking water, shaded or ventilated rest areas and hydration reminders. At 33°C to 41°C, they must enforce regular rest and hydration breaks, provide cooling areas and appropriate protective equipment, and ensure access to trained first-aiders. At 42°C to 51°C, they must limit riders’ heat exposure through flexible work arrangements. At 52°C or higher, work must be halted, rescheduled or relocated if the risks cannot be safely controlled (Inquirer).

  • Essential deliveries only, voluntary riders only: for essential deliveries such as medicines, food and emergency supplies, only the necessary number of riders should be deployed, on a voluntary basis.
  • Other protections: shorter exposure periods, rider rotation, hydration, cooling facilities, and access to first aid and emergency transport.
  • Safety first: the guidelines state that maintaining services should not come at the expense of workers’ safety.

Before the advisory was issued, Secretary Tolentino said platforms should not penalize riders for protecting themselves from extreme heat, and that companies should tell riders and customers when heat could delay deliveries. “Their app will indicate when the heat is at a level where riders may opt not to make deliveries. Customers will also be notified that their deliveries may be delayed due to extreme heat,” he said on October 23 (Inquirer; GMA News).

Other duties for employers

  • Assess the risk: through their OSH personnel and committees, and in consultation with workers, employers must conduct and document hazard identification, risk assessment and control (HIRAC) for occupational heat stress and related El Niño impacts. The assessment covers factors such as heat, humidity, work intensity, exposure duration, water availability, ventilation and cooling, and power interruptions (Daily Tribune).
  • Monitor PAGASA: watch PAGASA El Niño advisories, seasonal climate outlooks and heat index forecasts and data, and review the HIRAC as new information comes out (Daily Tribune).
  • Plan ahead: include heat-related contingencies in OSH programs and emergency plans, and keep welfare facilities safe and accessible (Inquirer).
  • Keep records and SSS coverage: record work-related heat illnesses in medical logs and annual medical reports, and make sure workers are enrolled in the Social Security System (SSS) with contributions paid (Inquirer; Daily Tribune).

Workers, for their part, are expected to follow the safety measures and promptly report symptoms or unsafe conditions (PMAP circular on LA 20-2026).

If a worker gets sick from the heat

A separate advisory, Labor Advisory No. 19, s. 2026 (October 23), covers compensation for work-related heat illnesses under the Employees’ Compensation Program. See our guide: DOLE heat-related illness compensation: who qualifies and how to claim.

What we have not yet confirmed

NewsToGov has not yet been able to access the full text of Labor Advisory No. 20 on the DOLE website. This article is based on news reports quoting the advisory and on the PMAP summary. Details such as exact work-rest schedules and penalties for non-compliance are not stated in these sources. We will update this article once the official text is available.

Sources

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