1M jobs in areas under post-Covid-19 recovery plan: DOLE

FILE: Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III during a press conference on Thursday (Sept. 27, 2018), which is held at the DOLE main office in Intramuros, Manila.(PNA photo by Gil Calinga)

MANILA – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday said it will provide one million jobs in provinces and rural areas for workers, as part of its post-coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic recovery plan.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they are coordinating with other government agencies in crafting a scheme to provide jobs to Filipinos affected by the health crisis.

“Also, we are deep into the details of a recovery plan post-Covid for the generation of a fresh one million jobs in the provinces for our workers in the coming months,” Bello said in a virtual press conference with other labor officials.

The agency’s announcement came ahead of Labor Day on Friday.

“This is part of a package that also includes 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,” he added.

Bello said they are looking to provide employment in the projects of the Department of Public Works (DPWH).

“All public works projects we will request to increase manpower (by) at least 10-20 percent (to) accommodate balik-probinsya workers,” he added.

Bello said they are still determining the wage to be given to workers that will be hired under the program.

He added they are issuing guidelines to ensure to protect and prevent Covid-19 cases in workplaces.

“Tomorrow we will observe Labor Day as we continue to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic. But offhand, in order to prepare our workers for the “new normal,” we are issuing joint guidelines with the Department of Trade and Industry for the workplace protection and prevention from Covid 19,” Bello said.

Since the recovery plan is anchored on the concept of “balik-probinsya”, Bello said the DOLE will continue to enhance the agency’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers program for the next three months to employ “returnees” and those in the barangays.

Meanwhile, former labor secretary Marianito Roque, a consultant to Bello, said the budget for the recovery plan is at PHP25 billion.

He added that they are still determining the priority areas for the jobs.

“We’re still determining but we are looking at poorest provinces, areas affected by lockdown,” he said.

As for the recruitment of workers, it will be handled by the Public Employment Service Offices of the local government units.