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Over 2 million workers displaced locally by COVID-19 pandemic, says DOLE


More than two million workers have been displaced locally after the government imposed community quarantines to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Sunday.

As of April 24, the number of affected workers reached 2,073,362, as reported by 79,271 establishments, the DOLE said.

The temporary closures of businesses displaced almost 1.4 million workers, it added.

Meanwhile, more than 687,000 workers saw a reduction in their incomes after companies adopted alternative work arrangements such as less workdays, rotation, forced leave and telecommuting.

The highest number of displaced workers was recorded in the National Capital Region at 687,634 workers.

The DOLE tally of displaced workers per region is as follows:

  • National Capital Region: 687,634
  • Central Luzon: 281,278
  • Davao Region: 207,789
  • Calabarzon: 158,646
  • Region 10: 106,162
  • Region 2: 88,531
  • Central Visayas: 86,767
  • MIMAROPA: 74,533
  • Region 6: 65,892
  • Bicol region: 65,757
  • CAR: 63,957
  • Region 8: 49,362
  • CARAGA: 39,711
  • Region 9: 37,683
  • Region 1: 32,017
  • Region 12: 27,643

 

"About 90 percent of establishments which reported work displacements are seeking the CAMP [COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program] assistance for their workers," the DOLE said.

The Labor department said it had already given out P1.7 billion from its regular funds to finance the one-time P5,000 assistance under CAMP for 345,865 formal sector workers.

The DOLE also disbursed P1.14 billion from the department's 2020 budget for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko (TUPAD) program which benefitted 259,449 informal sector workers.

The department stopped accepting requests for CAMP assistance on April 15 due to the volume of applications. —KG, GMA News