All workers covered by Covid-19 cash aid program: DOLE

FILE: Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, in a press briefing for the Philippine media delegation at the Orchard Hotel in Singapore on April 27, 2018. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – All workers of private companies whose operations are affected due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak are covered by the financial assistance provided by the government under the Covid Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Friday.

In Labor Advisory No. 12, Series of 2020 signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, all workers nationwide, regardless of status are entitled to the cash aid amounting to PHP5,000.

“Affected workers, regardless of status (i.

e. permanent, probationary, or contractual), are those employed In private establishments whose operations are affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” the advisory said.

The DOLE has also directed companies to submit the revised Establishment Report Form (ERF) including the company payroll for the month of February or earlier.

The documentary requirements should be submitted to the DOLE regional office (RO) or any of its provincial/field offices (PO/FO).

For the release of the financial support, the concerned DOLE RO/PO/FO shall directly release it to the employees’ payroll account through bank transfer while for cash payroll, it shall be received through money remittance.

The CAMP shall be effective on March 21.

Earlier, the DOLE said about 250,000 workers are expected to benefit from the program with a budget of PHP1.3 billion.

It added that the CAMP is a safety net program that aims to support affected workers in private establishments to mitigate the adverse economic impacts and reduction of income brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.