Female biofuel workers engaged in the processing coconut as feedstock will be getting additional benefits from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In his Department Order (DO) 225, Series of 2021, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III expanded the benefits of the said workers that may include maternity and death benefits.
“Under social protection and welfare benefits, meanwhile, qualified female coco or biodiesel workers can now avail of the one-time maternity benefit amounting to P5,000,” Bello said in a news statement issued on Monday.
As for the death, benefit, it could be availed of by coconut farmers and farmworkers and employees of Department of Energy-accredited coco methyl ester (CME) plants, the labor chief said.
The benefit will be equivalent to P7,000 and an additional P3,000 if the cause of death has been exacerbated by or due to novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
DO 225 also allowed the release of start-up capital to be given to the said workers not only in kind, but also in cash.
The assistance is given to the biofuel workers through the Social Amelioration and Welfare Program (SAWP) of DOLE, which makes use lien from CME producers amounting to P0.05 per liter of CME sold to oil companies.
Aside from maternity and death benefits as well as start-up capital, the SAWP is also used to facilitate productive employment, and ensure access of biofuel workers to productive resources and social protection coverage
DO 225 took effect on May 31, 2021 as part of the government’s efforts to improve the benefits of biofuel workers.