Gov’t aid available to workers who lost their jobs

 AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday said various forms of assistance are available to workers who have lost their jobs amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.   

“In times such as retrenchment and company closure, the DOLE ensures that separation benefits are provided to affected workers,” Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said in a Viber message.

This came as the DOLE reported that over 700 workers in 43 establishments have lost their jobs which were recorded in one week in Central Visayas.

“We can also facilitate employment in available vacancies in the labor market,” said Tutay, who is also head of the agency's Bureau of Local Employment (BLE).

Tutay said a total of 777 employees are now jobless due to retrenchment and permanent closure of businesses in the region from June 15 to 22.

“Based on our monitoring or establishments, there are about 43 establishments with 777 workers who permanently lost their jobs due to retrenchment and permanent closure in one week, June 15 to June 22. The figure is for the entire Region 7, not necessarily Cebu,” Tutay said.

Affected sectors include wholesale and retail, accommodation, and food services, among others.

“I don’t have a breakdown by region but on a national scale it is still wholesale and retail, accommodation and food services, administrative and support service activities, manufacturing, construction, transport,” she said.

Last week, the DOLE reported that the number of unemployed in the country is at 69,022 from 2,068 companies who have closed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

It added that before the pandemic, the country’s employment situation was vibrant, expanding at 4.0 percent or 1.6 million net employment generated.(By Ferdinand Patinio)