DOLE preps guidelines for ₧13-B worker aid
THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now finalizing the Omnibus Guidelines for the implementation of the P13-billion government aid for workers affected by Covid-19, under Republic Act (RA) 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2).
In a Viber message, Labor Assistant secretary Dominique Tutay told Businessmirror they expect to present the draft of the issuance to DOLE senior officials next week for their consideration and approval.
She noted their intervention will include a cash aid for local workers under their Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), as well as for those abroad through the abotka may ang Pagtulong (Akap) program.
DOLE will also provide them temporary emergency employment under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/displaced Worker (Tupad).
Minor variation
TUTAY said implementation of the three programs under Bayanihan 2 will only have minor variations from how these are usually implemented.
Specifically for Tupad, she said they might extend the period of the emergency employment, which usually only lasts for 10 days.
The DOLE will also prioritize those they were unable to serve under the three programs, when they ran out of funding at the height of the pandemic-induced lockdowns. “Our regional offices are doing validation with the establishments and LGUS to ensure that our unserved applicants have not received assistance from agencies outside DOLE under Bayanihan 1 (RA 11469),” Tutay said. Last Friday, President Duterte finally signed the Bayanihan 2 Law, which provides additional funding to government agencies for their Covid-19 response, and gives him the power to realign and reprogram funds. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the law will take effect after it is published in a newspaper or in the Official Gazette.
Growing displacement
IN its latest report, DOLE reported there were now 199,660 workers who were permanently displaced by 9,886 establishments nationwide from January to September 13, 2020. Of these workers, 179,552 were retrenched by their employers, while 20,108 were affected by the permanent closure of their companies. Most of them are from the National Capital Region (99,472), Calabarzon (36,450), and Central Luzon (20,796). By industry, they were concentrated in the administrative and support service activities (42,663); manufacturing (26,499); and other service activities (25,447). DOLE also reported 3.16 million workers were temporarily displaced amid the pandemic. Over 2 million of these workers were affected by the temporary closure of their establishments, while the remaining 1.2 million were engaged in flexible work arrangements such as reduced work week or telecommuting work arrangement.