Nearly 5 million Filipinos lost their jobs amid pandemic — Bello

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Thursday said almost 5 million Filipinos have lost their jobs due to the impact of the pandemic as of December last year.

Interviewed on ANC, Bello admitted the number is actually few because some of the employees who were temporarily cut back from work have already been rehired.

“As of December, umaabot lang po ng mga around a little less than 5 million,” he said.

“Kaunti talaga kasi kagaya ng sinabi ko meron 'yung about 3 million natanggal pero temporary. Under the law, after six months they have to be rehired,” he added.

Bello said some employers and employees have agreed to extend the period of the lay-off to another six months.

Earlier, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) appealed to the government to provide subsidies for workers amid the continuing impact of the pandemic.

"Napakahalaga po ng tulong na cash susbidy mula sa gobyerno. Makakatulong ito sa mangagawa na makabili ng mga basic commodities na kinakailangan nila," TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said.

Aside from this, 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.

Bello said the Department of Labor and Employment is eyeing another wage subsidy but for employers. DOLE plans to shoulder 25% to 50% of the salary of their workers.

“We really need the wage subsidy for employers in order to preserve...because that's our mandate, to preserve and protect the employment of our workers,” he said.

According to Bello, DOLE is proposing a P40 billion budget under another emergency legislation to address the impact of the pandemic or the Bayanihan 3.

“You have to provide them the momentum of restarting their business, yun ang pinaka-importante. Kailangan mapatibay 'yung kanilang negosyo,” he said.

“That’s the only way to restrengthen also 'yung employment rate natin,” he added.

Under the 2021 budget, Bello said that P19 billion has been allocated to assist workers who are affected by the pandemic, including the P3 billion from the Department of Tourism. — RSJ, GMA News