THE Makati Business Club (MBC) heeds calls for relief to its partner-suppliers and clients as well as its workers amid the slowdown caused by the enhanced community quarantine.
The MBC composed of big corporations across all sectors — from manufacturing to banks — has asked its members and other businesses to give small and medium enterprises concessions on payments for loan payments, rent, utilities, supplies, and others.
The group in a statement said it has called on companies to grant loans or release early the bonuses or 13th month pay of employees who may need the money to support family members who have lost their jobs, acknowledging “this is especially critical for daily paid workers.”
But the group also wants government to explore a quick way to give laid-off employees unemployment benefits or loans, especially if they are not entitled to this from the Social Security System or elsewhere, including contractual and informal workers.
The group sees the need to support businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, and their employees, during this period.
The MBC is one with other business groups in seeking for the filing and paying income taxes.
MBC said it welcomes the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ extension of financial and regulatory relief to banks, other financial institutions, and borrowers and supports the Department of Finance’s plan to boost borrowing by as much as P90 billion to maintain planned spending levels even as COVID-19 reduces government revenue.
The MBC also said it welcomes Rep. Joey Salceda and Rep. Stella Quimbo’s proposals for P190 billion and P108 billion of stimulus spending, respectively.
MBC also called on its members and other companies to take steps to help employees comply with quarantine, curfew, and other measures meant to slow the spread of COVID-19.
These steps include aggressive work-from-home arrangements; pro-active social distancing and other precautionary measures for workers needed on site; expanding paid sick leave for regular employees and ensuring sick employees go on sick leave, especially after the Department of Labor and Employment pledged to cover the cost.
