Due to the severe devastation brought by super typhoon Yolanda (International name Haiyan) entered the Philippines Area of Responsibility last November 8 damaging some of the vital infrastructures, agriculture and even lost some lives of Filipino people.
In regard with this, the International Labor Organization (ILO) makes way and hopes to help change the lives of half a million Yolanda victims within a year with the maximum of 100,000 decent jobs in areas devastated by the typhoon.
ILO disaster response and livelihood development officer Simon Hills, stressed the need to provide employment that would help rebuild the lives of typhoon victims, he added that decent work can speed up the recovery process and lead to “multiple effect.”
Hills also want to (–foul word(s) removed–)ures jobs for 100,000 men and women that include minimum wages, sound occupational safety, skills development and social protection can change the lives of 500,000 people within 12 months beyond.
As part of his explanation, one wage earner can support a family of five, who in turn will be able to pay for food, medicine, water and transportation.
“So, the money that goes to this family through this one job will then circulate with a multiplier effect across the local economy,” he added.
According to him, it is critical that people from disaster areas have money and immediate support through emergency employment.
With ILO’s support, Hills said the Philippine Government has step up emergency employment programs in Leyte and Samar.
There are already 17,000 people have registered and are ready to clear roads, rehabilitate schools, clean hospitals, and public infrastructures in typhoon hit areas.
The ILO will start other employment programs in Northern Cebu, Negros Occidental and Coron Palawan.
Those who were employed under the emergency employment program will be given a minimum of 15 days and receive salaries and social security benefits set by the law.
Hills said that short-term employment alone is not enough, thus the ILO and the Philippine government are working closely to provide typhoon victims with opportunities to develop skills that will enable them to have stable sources of income and social protection, inclusive of health insurance.