THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now seeking an additional P2-billion budget to provide aid to workers who will be displaced because of the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“It may take some time if we go to Congress for supplemental budget. It will be faster if we will make the request to the Office of the President,” Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello said in a press conference.
Labor Undersecretary Ana C. Dione said they will use the amount to beef up their Adjustment Measures Program (AMP).
If approved, she said the fund will allow the agency to provide financial aid to affected workers in the form of a subsidy.
The budget request is expected to be submitted to the Office of the President within the week.
Local impact
The global spread of Covid-19 is currently threatening the operations of many tourism-related establishments, as it drastically cut down the number of travelers going into the country.
As of March 3, Labor Assistant Secretary Officer in Charge Dominique R. Tutay said 35 tourism-related firms, which employ 3,255 workers, have already informed DOLE they will be implementing flexible work arrangement.
The companies are based in regions 6, 7 and 12.
Under flexible work arrangement, she said, companies can adopt a reduced workweek, work rotation, forced leave, or even allow employees to work from their homes to minimize their costs.
Tutay said another 20 establishments implemented a temporary suspension of operations, which involves a little over 300 workers due to the effects of Covid-19.
Isolated case
Outside the country, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans J. Cacdac reported at least 40 overseas Filipino workers (OFW), who were already displaced as their non-resident employers leave Covid-19-hit Hong Kong.
Of the case, he said, 35 were initiated by their employers.
While the retrenched OFWs have the option to transfer to another employer in Hong Kong, most of them, Cacdac said, returned home to await their new job visas.
He said they are ready to provide aid to affected workers either through financial aid or through livelihood assistance.
Bello noted the reports of displacement in relation to Covid-19 remain isolated for now.
However, he gave assurances the government has the necessary reintegration program in place in case there is an increase in the number of OFWs seeking repatriation due to Covid-19.
Image credits: Roy Domingo
2 comments
is any ex-abroad can avail the financial assestant ?who affects of corona virus?because me and my wife is affected because no work?my name is juanito s.enolpe ex-abroad in saudi and my wife bonifacia t. Enolpe ex-abroad in brunei country she go home this last september.
this is my contact number #09958496203/09451892842
im bonifacia enolpe,ex-abroad in brunei country,i go home this last september,and now my family in Lourdes,alubijid mis.or are affected in corona virus because me and my husband are no work?how can i feed my kids if our goverment no help even a financial assestant? So i hope and i pray that i can avail in any cash assestant from DOLE AND OWWA.even my husband is also ex-abroad in saudi..
This is my contact number:09958406203/09451892842