DOLE: Cash aid to private

Workers hit by COVID-19

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 24, (PIA)--The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused economic crisis that padlocked businesses and temporarily closed some has also pushed the government to offer safety nets for workers who suddenly found they just have become jobless and are thus economic liabilities.

Through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the government, in its mandate to provide protection of labor, promotion of full employment and provision of equal labor opportunities while providing maximum assistance and care through services to individuals and families affected by COVID, is implementing an emergency rehabilitation project to dampen the impact of the crisis and help restore to normal economic activities.

By rehabilitation project, the government through the DOLE puts up COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), a safety net that offers financial support to COVID-19 affected workers in the private establishments that have adopted flexible work arrangements or temporary closure.

The financial support is set to mitigate the adverse economic impacts and reduced incomes of workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligible for CAMP assistance are COVID-19-affected private sector workers from January 202 until the government lifts the Social Distancing Measures.

While the DOLE encourages large establishments to cover for the full wages of their employees within one month of community quarantine period, the government provides financial relief to affected workers a one-time financial assistance of P5,000.00 in non-conditional lump sum regardless of employment status.

The aid, according to DOLE is also relative to Labor Advisory 11, series of 2020, which states that workers’ leave of absence during the quarantine period are to be charged against their leave credits, while the financial assistance covers the remaining unpaid leaves or workers.

Other than financial aid, the program also assists in employment facilitation for affected workers who could access available job opportunities fitting their qualifications.

These may be through job matching, referrals and job placement services for local or foreign, job coaching, labor and market information.

As to program implementation, applicants must be private establishments that have implemented flexible working arrangements of have temporarily closed due toCOVID-19.

These establishments must submit: 1. An Establishment Report on COVD pursuant to Labor Advisory 9 series of 2020; 2. Company payroll for the month prior to the implementation of the FWA or temporary closure.

This application with complete documentary requirements are submitted online to the DOLE Regional or Provincial Field Offices where these will be evaluated by the concerned regional office within three working days from receiving the soft copy.

Within the span, the DOLE may issue the applicant the Notice of Approval or Notice of Denial, for any of the following reasons: ineligible applicant, misrepresentation of facts in the application and submission of falsified or tampered document.

Upon approval by the Regional Director and upon the receipt of the Notice of Approval, the disbursement commences where the concerned DOLE regional office issues the financial support directly to the beneficiary’s payroll account through bank transfer within two weeks upon receipt.

A Notice of Completion will also be issued to the establishment within three working days through electronic mail, as soon as the beneficiaries get their financial support.

On the other hand, the DOLE Regional or Field Offices shall refer workers to the nearest Public Employment Service Office for provision of full-cycle employment facilitation, referred to appropriate employers with job vacancies matching their qualifications while job coaching and relevant labor market information is provided. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)