DOLE mulls reduced workdays in commercial firms

MANILA, Philippines — To prevent the number of jobless people from increasing further nationwide, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is promoting the adoption of reduced workdays in commercial establishments.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the department has asked businesses to allow 50 percent of their employees to work alternately or go for a temporary suspension of operations, instead of closing down entirely.

“Our focus now is on how to keep employment, we are doing our best to avoid displacements so we are talking to our businessmen and managers not to close shop,” Bello said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

“We requested them to just (temporarily) suspend operations or allow 50 percent workforce to work alternately so we could just maintain employment. There would be reduced earnings, but that’s better than losing their jobs,” he explained.

Based on DOLE data, 2.5 million workers have been displaced after their companies folded up or adopted flexible work arrangements following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Bello admitted that while DOLE is providing financial assistance, it could not cover all the displaced workers due to its limited budget.

Those who were not covered, he added, were referred to the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and of Finance (DOF) for appropriate assistance.

Bello said that DOLE is also working with the Departments of Public Works and Highways and of Transportation (DOTr) for the hiring of displaced workers and those who are availing of the Balik Probinsya program.

This is aside from suggesting to the construction industry the hiring of additional manpower, instead of buying equipment.

While the DOLE is doing these, Malacañang has advised companies in areas under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to defer their reopening if they cannot provide transportation for their employees.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the restrictions on public transportation are being implemented to avoid a second wave of coronavirus cases.

“We do not want to be like other countries that reopened their economies and then experienced a second wave. If the company cannot provide a shuttle or if their employees do not have transportation, they should not open yet because it is important for us to avoid a second wave,” Roque said.

“It’s a policy decision. We want to restart the economy but not at the expense of having a second wave,” he added. ?High-risk areas Metro Manila, Laguna and Cebu City will be placed under MECQ after May 15 while the rest of the country will be under the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ).

Under MECQ, some forms of private transportation will be allowed as long as they observe safety protocols.

The only allowed mode of public transportation is shuttle services provided by the government to frontliners.

Private transportation allowed under MECQ are company shuttles but only half of their capacity should be filled; personal vehicles for workers in permitted sectors and activities (two persons per row), bicycle (one person only), motorcycle (one person only) and e-scooter (one person only).

Under GCQ, all modes of public transport will be allowed but in a reduced capacity to observe safe physical distancing. All private transportation are also permitted in these areas.

Meanwhile, Bello said DOLE is readying the implementation of the livelihood program for displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

For this, DOLE is getting P1 billion in additional funding from the Department of Budget Management (DBM), which would translate to a $200 grant per worker. A loan of P20,000 will also be given.

“We actually asked for an additional budget of P2.5 billion, but the DBM only granted P1 billion. We will live with it and continue distributing assistance to our displaced OFWs until funds run out,” Bello pointed out.

At least 411,000 displaced OFWs have sought financial aid from DOLE. So far, only over 100,000 have qualified for the cash assistance program. Alexis Romero