OVER 600 private establishments in Western Visayaswith several thousands of employees adversely affected by the enhanced community quarantine being observed to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 2019 at bay have sought the help of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The Labor department should hasten the dispensation of financial aid to these private sector workers affected by the suspension of work, including thousands of private school teachers.
The socio-economic impact of the enhanced community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected every Filipino, most especially our workers. Government has been slow with its medical and socioeconomic solutions to protect the people from the virus and from hunger. Teachers and other school employees in the private sector are not spared from the economic impact of the quarantine. In fact, private school teachers and education support personnel in the private sector are most vulnerable in the education sector since many are contractual employees and are no-work-no-pay workers.
It’s the third week of implementation of the quarantine. Many ordinary private sector workers still have yet to receive any socioeconomic aid from the government. For example, teachers and education support personnel in the private sector also are still worried and anxious because they are not sure if the DOLE order covers also private school teachers and private school personnel. While some schools have ended their academic year this March, many have adopted a calendar shift having their classes until the end of May, leaving many teachers and professors unsure of how they will be asked to continue their classes and if they would be compensated while classes are suspended.
We urge the DOLE to expedite the dispensation of financial aid to private sector workers as they continue to wait for government aid during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine. The Duterte administration has already been granted emergency powers by Congress yet.
While at this, it won’t hurt if DOLE considers increasing the financial aid for the private sector workers. Though P5,000 is a start, it will not be enough to ensure food security for the remaining days under quarantine especially since government still has not imposed adequate medical solutions to stop the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.
