Labor group appeals for more wage subsidy for workers

Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is now appealing for the government to provide subsidies for workers, given the continued impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Napakahalaga po ng tulong na cash susbidy mula sa gobyerno. Makakatulong ito sa mangagawa na makabili ng mga basic commodities na kinakailangan nila," Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesperson said in a report by JP Soriano on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday.

Inflation has continued to accelerate in the last three months of 2020, clocking in at 3.5% in December, the fastest in over a year.

The acceleration is expected to have continued this month, driven by higher fuel and meat prices.

For its part, the Bureau of Local Employment said it provided P5,000 to over a million employees of the formal sector under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, with over 400,000 more employees set to receive assistance in the coming months, mostly from the tourism sector.

"Under the 2021 budget for DOLE, meron po tayong TUPAD funds and this is for informal sector workers, so malaki po 'yung pondo natin diyan, about P20 billion," Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay said in the same report.

TUPAD, or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers.

Under the program, the workers are employed for a minimum of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News