ILOILO City – Were you one of the workers whose jobs were affected by the coronavirus pandemic?
Since the start of the year, 99,957 Western Visayans reeled from the pandemic’s impact. Most adopted flexible work arrangements or alternative work schemes, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
As of Sept. 12, 1,937 establishments resorted to reducing work days, affecting 57,239 workers, said John Mandario, information officer of DOLE-6.
Others were affected by the pandemic shutdowns.
According to Mandario, 1,343 establishments temporarily closed doors. They were not allowed to operate under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or modified ECQ. A total of 33,984 workers were affected.
Meanwhile, 7,986 workers from 781 establishments were retrenched.
Mandario said the sectors that adopted flexible work arrangements and had reduced the number of workers included food, accommodation, agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
Moreover, 748 workers have either gone jobless or found other jobs when 89 establishments in the region permanently closed.
These were workers from the accommodation, food services, arts, and entertainment and recreation sectors, according to Mandario.
However, he said since Iloilo city and province were under MECQ and the rest of Western Visayas on GCQ, several establishments have reopened, albeit following certain venue capacity restrictions.
At least, Mandario said, workers will be able to return to work and gradually recover from the effects of the pandemic.
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Mandario said DOLE-6 is offering assistance to keep pandemic-affected workers afloat, such as the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), a community-based package of assistance.
Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 9 this year, DOLE-6 released P351,721,947.50 to 87,492 TUPAD beneficiaries.
The program gave emergency employment to displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers for a minimum period of 10 days. The daily wage is P395.
Mandario also cited the “Adjustment Measures Program for Affected Workers Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” or CAMP – a safety net program implemented last year that offered financial support to affected workers in private establishments that adopted flexible work arrangements or faced temporary closure.
To recall, CAMP covered workers in private establishments affected by the pandemic from its onset in January until the lifting of the stringent quarantine measures on April 14 last year.
CAMP provided financial assistance to cover the remaining unpaid leaves of workers affected by the quarantine.
A one-time financial assistance equivalent to P5,000 was provided to affected workers in lump sum, non-conditional, regardless of employment status.
Mandario also noted that the Public Employment Services Offices in the provinces and highly urbanized cities in Region 6 were also holding job fairs./PN