Barbershops & Salons during GCQ

Image Source

Published — June 1, 2022

The following post does not create a lawyer-client relationship between Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices (or any of its lawyers) and the reader. It is still best for you to engage the services of your own lawyer to address your legal concerns, if any.

Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.

Read also: Operations of Malls and Shopping Centers in Areas Declared Under General Community Quarantine (GCQ)

To bring back the jobs of the estimated 400,000 workers in the industry working in over 35,000 barbershops and salons, Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) allowed the opening of barbershops and salons provided very strict health standards shall be adopted in order to prevent any risk of COVID-19 transmission. Barbershops and salons in areas declared under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) can begin to reopen starting June 7, 2020 at thirty percent (30%) operational capacity. The operational capacity can gradually increase to fifty percent (50%) after two (2) weeks provided that venue capacity allows for social distancing protocols and such businesses are compliant with the proper protocols prescribed by the DTI.

In areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), they are allowed to reopen at fifty percent (50%) of operational capacity.  Operational capacity refers to such number of workers who can be permitted or required to physically report to work on-site in a particular office or establishment.

Services Allowed

During the GCQ, only basic haircutting services shall be permitted to be performed in barbershops and salons so as to shorten the time of service and lessen the exposure of customers.

Additional Health Standards and Protocols

In addition to the minimum health standards prescribed by the DOH under Administrative Order No. 2020-0015 and the DTI DOLE Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19, owners of barbershops and salons in GCQ areas are enjoined to establish and maintain the following measures under Memorandum Circular No. 20-28 Series of 2020 issued by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI):

1. Posting of information at the entrance and other prominent or conspicuous areas about the following:
1. Mandatory wearing of face masks at all times;
2. Social distancing protocols of the establishment;
3. Regular sanitation schedule and procedures (a 10-minutes interval for sanitation in between clients is required);
4. Availability of alternative methods of payment, if applicable;
5. Availability of alternative methods of scheduling appointments (e.g, online or via text)
6. Client-personnel interaction protocols;
7. Policy against the bringing of companions, unless absolutely necessary, and
8. Enforcement measures for clients who refuse to comply with the protocols in a manner consistent with the law.
2. Requiring the placing of the following at the entrance:
1. Floor mat or foot bath with disinfectant;
2. Thermal scanner (temperature reading);
3. Alcohol that can be easily sprayed on the client’s hands:
4. Health Declaration checklist to be distributed to all clients;
5. A system where the personal effects of clients including bags, jackets, and gadgets are disinfected and deposited in secured and sanitary plastic bags, and
6. Face shields to be distributed to clients if they availed shampoo services.
3. Enforcement of the following protocols concerning equipment found in the workplace:
1. Distancing of chairs to at least one (1) meter apart on all sides
2. Visible markings on the and unusable chairs for guidance of clients;
3. Proper ventilation
4. Personal effects of personnel should be placed in plastic bags stored in an area inaccessible to clients
5. Face masks readily available for sale, or otherwise, to clients,
6. Sanitizing equipment and tools that are visible to clients
7. Sterilization of workstation before and after each service:
8. Pieces of furniture that are made of porous materials should be covered in plastic for ease of sanitation; and
9. Strict use of disposable-only menus, reading materials and magazines
4. Enforcement of the following protocols concerning employees in the workplace:
1. No personnel with COVID-19 symptoms or with exposure to COVID-19 patients shall be allowed to work;
2. No wearing of pieces of jewelry (e.g rings, bracelets, watches, earrings, exposed body piercings);
3. Observance of proper personal hygiene (e.g clipped fingernails, observance of company-imposed personal sanitation);
4. Mandatory wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) including, but not limited to:
1. Face mask
2. Face shield or eye protector
3. Disposable Hand Gloves
4. Hair caps
5. Mandatory wearing of closed shoes
6. Observance of the proper disposal of single-use equipment (e.g. cotton bells, popsicle sticks, tissue);
7. Observance and enforcement of the client-personnel interaction protocols
8. Mandatory declaration of health and whereabouts prior to every duty;
9. Frequent handwashing/sanitizing
5. For faster and effective contact tracing, while keeping confidentiality of personal information, the workers and customers of barbershops and salon establishments shall be strongly encouraged to register at staysafe.ph.
6. Requiring the following procedures upon exit
1. No physical contact during payment; and
1. Personnel are provided with small trays for accepting cash
2. Offer alternative modes of payment (credit card, non-cash digital payment), if applicable
2. Regular sanitation of high-contact areas and surfaces (eg. pens used for filling out forms, door handles, common tables).

---

---

Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices specializes in business law and labor law consulting. For inquiries, you may reach us at info@alburolaw.com, or dial us at (02)7745-4391/0917-5772207.

All rights reserved.

---

SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES!

[email-subscribers-form id=”4″]

Share
Tweet
Share
0 Shares