46,000 workers lose jobs in FEB–DOLE

SOME 46,000 additional workers permanently lost their jobs last month as quarantine restrictions to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic continue to disrupt business operations.

In its latest Job Displacement Report, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported the number of permanently displaced workers rose to 71,744 last month from 25,226 in January.

“Retrenchment or reduction of work force was mostly observed in small enterprises [42 percent or 1,159], while there is higher incidence of permanent closure in micro enterprises [52 percent or 177],” DOLE said.

Of the latest figure, 65,160 were retrenched by 2,813 firms, while the remaining 6,584 were affected by the permanent closure of their companies.

“Most displaced workers were under construction [26-percent share or 18,332] and other service activities [19 percent or 13,458] sectors,” DOLE said.

Other sectors, which registered a significant spike in permanently displaced workers are administrative and support service activities (7,952); manufacturing (6,491); transportation and storage (5,218); accommodation and food service activities (4,086); and wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (4,037).

The top 5 regions, where these workers were formerly employed were in the National Capital Region (44,323); Central Visayas (8,949); Central Luzon (5,511); Calabarzon (4,893); Mimaropa (2,707); and Western Visayas (1,870).

The 46,518 jobless toll was 33.98 percent higher compared to the 30,712 permanently displaced in the same period in 2020.

The number of temporarily displaced workers last month also tripled to 324,185 compared to 108,089 in January.

Most, or 227, those who were temporarily displaced in February were engaged in flexible work arrangements such as reduced workdays, forced leaves and telecommuting, while the remaining 96,779 were affected by temporary closure of their establishments.