MANILA – Philippine lawmakers on Sunday urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide assistance to workers who may be displaced due to fears of the coronavirus outbreak.
Under the 2020 national budget, DOLE has allotted P112.62 million for its adjustment measures program and P6.8 billion for the assistance of disadvantaged and displaced workers such as tour operators and vehicle rentals, according to Sen. Sonny Angara.
“Para sa mga kababayan natin na nawalan na ng hanapbuhay dahil sa pagkalugi ng kanilang kumpanya o sector, may mga tulong pinansyal na nakaloob sa ating Department of Labor and Employment na pwedeng gamiting pantawid habang wala pang nahahanap na kapalit na trabaho,” the senator said in a statement.
Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite, meanwhile, said DOLE should implement more comprehensive measures, such as assisting those who were laid off to find a new job.
“Ang gusto nating matiyak, long-term employment. Hindi short-term employment. Hindi ‘yung walang katiyakan na matatanggal ka na lamang,” he said.
At least 7,000 workers are about to be laid off within the next six months due to the virus outbreak, according to the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
The Philippine Airlines earlier said it would let go of 300 employees under a “business restructuring” made more urgent by the coronavirus outbreak that slowed world air travel.
“It is now inevitable that other airlines, to cope with the crisis, will also make similar retrenchments of non-essential jobs which will also affect workers down their supply chains,” TUCP president and TUCP Party-list rep. Raymond Mendoza said.
“Job orders for Filipino seafarers are zero. Other Filipino crew in other cruise ships are about to be sent home in the next few weeks including those with unexpired contract in case passenger bookings being monitored by ship operators and shipowners are unable to meet the number of passengers required for the trip.”
In a media forum in Manila Sunday, Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavides said companies are mandated by law to provide separation pay and unemployment insurance.
He said DOLE’s mandate was to ensure that affected workers are getting reasonable compensation.
“Kami po ang pumupunta mismo sa mga employer para nang sa gayon ay taasan naman ‘yung mga separation packages,” Benavides said.
The House Committee on Labor is set to conduct hearing on Tuesday to determine more benefits and assistance for workers. (ABS-CBN News)
