THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday offered disinfection or sanitation jobs to some 18,000 displaced informal sector workers for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) which will last until April 12.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said informal sector workers, underemployed, self-employed workers, and displaced marginalized workers will benefit from the department’s emergency employment program.
“We are rolling out a P180-million emergency employment program under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) for some 18,000 informal sector workers,” Bello said in a statement.
Under Department Order No. 210-2020, informal sector, underemployed, self-employed, and displaced marginalized workers who have lost their livelihood or whose earnings were affected due to the lockdown because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are qualified to avail of the program.
The order states that the nature of work shall be the disinfection/sanitation of their houses and their immediate vicinity.
It said that worker-beneficiaries shall receive the minimum daily wage in the region for 10 days of work, as well as enrolment to group micro-insurance.
Brochures containing guidelines on safety and health during the COVID crisis will be disseminated to workers who will avail of the program.
DOLE regional offices shall provide the cleaning solutions that the workers will be using.
On Tuesday, the DOLE also approved the provision of a one-time financial assistance benefit for about 250,000 formal sector workers affected by the ECQ.
Meanwhile, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said it would release half of the 13th month pay and the salaries up to April 15 of its national employees and legal aid clerks affected by the enhanced lockdown.
IBP national president Domingo Egon Cayosa said this would help their employees buy food and other basic necessities while the quarantine is in place.
“The IBP will release in advance the equivalent of one-half of the 13th month pay for 2020 and salaries up to April 15 as they may need cash to buy food supply and basic necessities to limit mobility and prevent the risk of infection during this quarantine period,” Cayosa said.
“Please prudently use the advance benefits and salaries to buy necessities to weather the lockdown,” he appealed to IBP personnel.
Cayosa said the IBP treasurer, finance unit, and national executive officers are working on the details of the release of the cash benefits.
“We have also directed the chapters with enough resources to do the same for the allowances from chapter funds that are due to the legal aid clerks,” he added. — With Ashzel Hachero
