Over 2.7 million workers were affected by business disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), according to the latest data of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Around 70 percent, or 1,927,308, of the said workers were affected by temporary closures (TC), while the remaining 30 percent, or 949,873, were compelled to practice flexible work arrangements (FWA).
They were employed by 102,607 establishments nationwide.
The National Capital Region (NCR) continues to have the most number of workers affected by government measures to contain the virus with 890,020.
Coming in second place is Central Luzon with 295,458; followed by Calabarzon with 286,630; Central Visayas with 209,033; Davao region with 205,380; Northern Mindanao with 181,523; and Zamboanga Peninsula with 121,786.
The other Covid-affected workers came from Cagayan Valley (90,983); Mimaropa (88,474); Bicol region (79,564); Western Visayas (73,525); and Cordillera Administrative Region (68,210); Eastern Visayas (54,592); Caraga (46,779); Ilocos region (32,020); and Soccsksargen (27,663).
Most of the affected workers were employed in the following sectors: wholesale and retail; accommodation and food and service; manufacturing; construction; education; financial and insurance activities; administrative and support service; and transportation and storage.
Some of the reported affected workers may have already returned to work after the government placed more regions under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) earlier this month.
DOLE’s monitoring of the impact of Covid-19 to the country’s work force started on March 16, 2020, a day before President Duterte placed the entire Luzon under ECQ.
During the start of its monitoring, DOLE only registered 10,756 workers affected by anti-Covid measures.
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