DOLE: No underreporting, downplaying of number of workers hit by COVID-19 crisis

The Philippine Labor Department on Tuesday denied allegations that it is underreporting or downplaying the number of workers hit by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"We wish to take strong exception to the claim by some groups that the Labor Department is underreporting or downplaying the actual number of workers affected by the community quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country," it said in a statement.

"We have been forthright and transparent," it added.

DOLE earlier said over a million workers in the country have already been affected by the economic standstill brought about by the COVID-19.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), however, earlier said DOLE could be underreporting the number of COVID-affected workers, as the labor group estimates some 2.5 to 4 million.

"We have not, in fact, discontinued accepting establishment reports so that we may have a better picture of the impact of the health emergency on the workplaces. And the numbers keep getting bigger by the day," said DOLE.

"It is our desire to reach the most number of workers with the assistance we can provide. There is no reason for us in government, much less in the labor department, to play with numbers — underreport or otherwise downplay them," it elaborated.

Earlier, the department said that as many as 1.8 million workers in the country could be hit by the global health crisis, citing estimates from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/RSJ, GMA News