By Louisa Erispe
The Department of Labor and Employment assured that formal workers who will be temporarily displaced or will be affected by the no-work, no pay set-up during the week-long implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus Bubble, may apply for cash assistance under the COVID-19 Assistance Measures Program (CAMP).
According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, employers may submit the list of their displaced workers for the one-time ₱5,000 cash assistance.
“Mayroon po tayong handang tulong para sa ating mga manggagawa na madidisplace dahil dito sa bagong quarantine level. I’m sure marami sa ating mga kababayan, mga workers, mga empleyado na maaring hindi makapasok sa trabaho dahil dito… Handa naman ang Department of Labor [and Employment] na kahit paano makapagbigay tayo ng tulong. (We have ready assistance for our workers who will be displaced due to this new quarantine level. I’m sure many of our countrymen, workers, employees will not be able to go to work because of this. The Department of Labor [and Employment] is ready to give help),” Sec. Belo added.
The government will also offer emergency employment to informal workers who will be displaced during the ECQ. Under the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers), informal workers will help on the disinfection of the local government. Workers may also apply to the Department of Interior and Local Government as Contact Tracers and they will be given assistance under the program.
“We volunteered to the Department of (the Interior and) Local Government na yung ating mga benepisyaryo roon sa ating emergency deployment program ay gamitin nila as contact tracers (so that all our beneficiaries under the emergency deployment program can be tapped as contact tracers),” he suggested.
The DILG will select and train the contact tracers. Sec. Bello said this emergency employment program is not only for the NCR Plus Bubble but is open nationwide, depending on the request of Local Government Units for additional contact tracers.
Effects of another ECQ on the unemployment rate
Meanwhile, Sec. Bello admitted that the “second season of the ECQ” is still a cause of alarm but it is expected that it would not affect unemployment that much as the new quarantine level is expected to last only for a week.
“It is still a cause of alarm kasi syempre marami din tayong manggagawang naapektuhan niyan. We’re glad na at least one week lang so hopefully hanggang one week lang yan para naman ‘yung mga empleyado na maapektuhan, unang-una kikita ulit sila, magta-trabaho ulit (It is still a cause of alarm because, of course, many of our workers are still affected. We are glad that this is just for at least one week so hopefully it will run for only a week so that affected employees, will first of all get to earn, work again),” the secretary assessed.
The labor department assured to expedite the distribution of assistance to lessen the effect of the stricter quarantine protocol implemented.
“One week lang naman po, apektado ‘yung work ninyo, pero nandiyan naman po kami na mag-provide ng cash assistance sa lahat ng maapektuhan ng bagong ECQ (You work will be only affected for just one week but we are here to provide cash assistance to everybody affected by the new ECQ).”
The assurance of a safe of workplace
According to Labor Secretary Bello, so far there are no reports on the spike of cases in workplaces. DOLE together with the Department of Trade and Industry will conduct an immediate and intensified thorough inspection in business establishments and workplaces nationwide during the ECQ.
55,000 labor standard inspectors will visit more 60 thousand establishments in the country for proper ventilation, transportation and if they are compliant with the labor law and health standard set by the government.
“Mayroon kaming ipinalabas na mga direktiba para sa ating mga labor standard inspectors na magconduct ng intensified inspection sa lahat ng mga business establishment, mga workplace. Sabay-sabay po nila inspection iyan to determine if they are compliant with all the labor law and health standards and protocols (We have issued directives for our labor standard inspectors to conduct intensified inspection on all business establishments, workplaces. They will conduct the inspection at the same time to determine if they are compliant with all the labor law and health standards and protocols).”
The inspection is set to be done this March and DOLE a finished report is expected not later than this Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
