Press Release
May 1, 2020

LABOR DAY ON THIRD ECQ EXTENSION
Speed up urgent, long-term help for 2.2M COVID-rendered jobless, including 200,000 OFWs: Pangilinan

The government needs to speed up urgent as well as long-term help for the 2.2 million Filipinos rendered jobless by COVID-19 and the subsequent halt in most economic activities, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Labor Day Friday, also the first day of the third extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

"Kakaibang Araw ng Paggawa ngayon, di pwedeng mag-sama-sama at magdiwang ang mga nagbabanat ng buto sa mga factory, office, at kalsada, maging sa mga bukid, dagat, at construction site. Dahil sa ECQ, 2.2 milyon na ang nawalan ng kinabubuhay, kabilang na ang tinatayang 200,000 na OFWs (overseas Filipino workers)," Pangilinan said.

"We welcome the labor department's workplace protection and COVID prevention plan, as well as its recovery plan to create one million jobs in the provinces. Kailangang madaliin ito," he added.

Yesterday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the recovery plan under discussion will also provide "a three-month wage subsidy to workers in micro and small-scale enterprises, including those in the 'gig' economy and members of the mass media."

"Ang mabilisang pagresponde sa pamamagitan ng cash aid o wage subsidy ang magsasalba sa gutom sa mga pamilya ng mga manggagawa habang nakikipagbunuan tayo sa krisis pangkalusugang ito," Pangilinan said.

At the same time, Pangilinan lauded all workers, especially front-liners and including those who work from home and those who are hustling to survive mostly through micro-entrepreneurship.

"Nagbibigay-pugay tayo sa lahat ng working class o uring manggagawa, lalo na ang mga nasa frontline, at kabilang ang mga naka-work from home at mga nakikipagsapalaran sa pagtitinda. Dahil sa kanila, hindi lubusang huminto ang ating ekonomiya, at mayroon pang mahahalagang kalakal at serbisyo na nakakaabot sa mga tahanan natin," he said.

"Sa ating unti-unting pagharap sa 'new normal' matapos ang mga linggong may economic lockdown, ang ating mga manggagawa ang magiging pinakamahalagang elemento sa pagbangon muli ng ekonomiya at muling pagtaguyod sa ating buhay at kabuhayan," Pangilinan said.

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