The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday said it is ready to provide aid to workers who were displaced by the closure of the gaming schemes of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III told reporters in a news briefing that the agency is ready to give affected workers alternative employment, as soon as the DOLE could verify their numbers.
“We are ready to provide emergency employment to those who were affected by the closure of Lotto and other STL [Small Town Lottery], and Peryahan ng Bayan,” Bello said.
DOLE also advised affected workers to avail themselves of the unemployment insurance from the Social Security System (SSS).
“Workers who were displaced involuntarily by reason of economic reason, could avail of the unemployment insurance,” Labor Assistant Secretary Benjo M. Benavidez said.
Republic Act 11199, or the Social Security Act, provides unemployment insurance to qualified workers, which is worth 50 percent of their average monthly salary credit for a maximum of two months.
To apply for the said benefit, Benavidez said applicants must first get the required certification from the DOLE.
“They need to get certification from the DOLE to prove they were retrenched because of involuntary termination like closure or cessation of operation,” Benavidez said.
He said the DOLE is coordinating with the SSS to fast-track the processing of applications for jobless insurance.
Workers hired by lotto outlets lost their jobs after President Duterte ordered the PCSO to cease its gaming activities during the weekend due to the alleged massive corruption in the government-owned and -controlled corporation.