Big companies should pay workers’ salary during quarantine, DOLE urges
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) urges big companies to pay the salary of workers during the 1-month quarantine in Luzon.
When President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the whole is now under enhanced community quarantine, more employees are saddened even those outside Metro Manila. Amid the implementation of region-wide quarantine, workers continue to do their normal routine because of the reason that they will not get paid once they will not report to work.
In line with this, the labor department urged big companies to take action in favor of the workers, based on the report from ABS-CBN. DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III reiterated the appeal of President Rodrigo Duterte to pay in advance the 13th-month pay of workers when possible. The 13th-month pay, under the law, should be paid before Christmas Day.
The Chief Executive of the Philippines mentioned this during his televised press conference on the night of March 16. This is following the call of employees regarding their financial status amid the quarantine.
“Yung madidisplace na workers, sila na muna mag-shoulder ng 1 month salary,” the labor secretary said specifically addressing the wealthy Sy, Ty, and Gokongwei families. Belo added that for minimum wage, displaced workers can also help the government disinfect its buildings under an emergency jobs program, based on the report.
Amid the community quarantine, social distancing is also implemented. However, apparently, this is not being followed because more people in the Luzon region are still commuting and walking on the streets to their workplace.
In a previous report, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda proposed the giving of weekly allowance for displaced workers. Meanwhile, Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez proposed that the 13th-month pay of the employees affected by quarantine should be released.
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