DOLE now allows employees to be placed under floating status for a year

The Philippine government has extended the period in which local employers are allowed to place workers under floating status to up to a year, which the labor department said would benefit employees moving forward, especially during the pandemic.

At a virtual briefing on Wednesday, Labor Undersecretary Benjo Santos Benavidez said that under Department Order 215-2020, the allowable period for floating status was extended by six months, given the impact of the COVID-19 on business.

The order amended the implementing rules and regulations of the Labor Code of the Philippines, which only allows floating status at a maximum of six months, after which employers can either hire back or retrench their employees.

"Minarapat po ng DOLE na bigyan ng pagkakataon 'yung mga negosyo at mga manggagawa na kung puwede pang palawigin 'yung tinatawag nilang floating status. Sa tingin namin ito ay mas makakabuti sa mga manggagawa, sa level nila, mag-usap sila na instead na sila ay tanggalin ay magkaroon sila ng usapan na i-extend pa 'yung kanilang floating status," said Benavidez.

Benavidez said that given the current conditions and the gradual reopening of business, it would be better to extend the period as firms would be forced to retrench employees if the six-month period is followed.

"Sa tingin ng kagawaran, mas maigi pong i-preserve natin 'yung employment nila rather than seeing them losing their employment. Ang hirap maghanap ng trabaho sa panahong mababa 'yung agos ng daloy ng pera o negosyo. Mas mahihirapan sila na makahanap ng mas permanenteng trabaho," he said.

Earlier this month, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that there were 500,000 workers who applied for assistance under its TUPAD program, but were unserved. The department said they will be prioritized in the next round of releases.

Just last month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported an unemployment rate of 10% in July, equivalent to 4.6 million jobless Filipinos. -MDM, GMA News