Over two million workers in the Philippines receive financial assistance

More than PHP8 billion (US$143.4 million) worth of emergency employment and cash assistance has been distributed by the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) of the Philippines to nearly two million informal sector workers who were adversely affected by the pandemic and other calamities that hit the country.

As outlined in DOLE’s year-end report, Bienvenido Laguesma, Secretary of Labour and Employment, explained the aid was provided under Tupad, a community-based aid programme that provides emergency employment to displaced, underemployed and seasonal workers.

Through Tupad, emergency employment was provided to 1.971 million informal sector workers whose income was impacted due to the pandemic. Depending on the work to be done, the programme provides workers in the informal sector with an emergency employment opportunity lasting no more than 10 days. These workers would be paid the minimum wage prevailing in their respective areas.

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To provide workers with improved and sustainable livelihood, entrepreneurship and work opportunities, the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Programme (DILP) also provided PHP358 million (US$630,909) in livelihood assistance to 21,210 workers.