About half of the displaced workers in areas declared under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) are in Metro Manila and industries that require face-to-face and personal services are hit the most.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in a study validated Secretary Ramon Lopez’ pronouncements that a million workers in the NCR Plus have yet to get back their jobs even under MECQ.
Lopez’ estimate was rounded off from 925,886 indicated by the DTI data. Of this figure, 439,651 are in Metro Manila
The DTI data indicated the reduced number of displaced workers was reduced from 1.5 million to 925,886 was due to the partial reopening of industries that employ th most such as those in manufacturing industry which had halted operations.
However, of that number, 680,400 are affected from skeleton staffing due to limited operations. Another 245,486 workers are displaced in industries that are still prohibited and where no alternative working arrangement is available.
Specifically, these are in the sectors that require face- to- face or in person interaction. Of the 245,486, about half or 116,054 are in special construction activities.
The others are in travel agency and tour operations; creative and entertainment, libraries, archives, museum and other cultural activities; gamling and betting; sports and amusement and recreation.
Of the 680,400 displaced by limited operations, nearly half 331,227 are in the provision of personal services like barber shops, salons, spas and massage centers.
Those with limited operations affected by skeleton staffing are in wholesale and retail trade and in the manufacture of tobacco, wood products paper and paper products, coke and refined petroleum, rubber and plastic, fabricated metal, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and other transport equipment and furniture.
The DTI data would show with the gradual opening of sectors under MECQ, almost 600, 000 workers are expected to go back to their jobs.
About 85 percent or 9 million of the total workers in NCR Plus are now working as the sectors where they are in continue their operations and activities during the lockdown.
The transition to MECQ resulted to a 5.2 percent increase in the number of workers that are now working.
