MANILA, Philippines — The Aboitiz Group has set aside P900 million to cover the early release of the end-March salary and the 13th or 14th month pay of its over 11,000 team members to help them cope with the health crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a statement on Friday, the group said it would also cover COVID-19-related medical expenses of any affected team members across its strategic business units in power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, and land.
Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer Sabin M. Aboitiz noted that there is a lot of anxiety as “during these trying times, we understand financial security is critical for all.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic remains at large, and we wish that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy in your homes,” Aboitiz said in a message sent to the group’s team members, adding that work-from-home schemes in Luzon and Visayas have already been implemented.
“The company also implemented reduced work hours (in keeping with local curfews where applicable) and provided adequate accommodation, food, and transportation for the skeletal workforce, particularly for its banking and financial services units UnionBank and CitySavings, who handle critical functions and have to report to work,” the group said.
Meanwhile, Aboitiz Construction’s project sites which are still on normal operations “observe strict precautionary measures.”
Its workers, the company said, receive project allowance on top of full eight-hour pay but with no overnight pay.
“Projects that have stopped operations but still have workers on site who are unable to travel out, will either be hired into another project in close proximity, within the defined community lockdown, or provided accommodation (site barracks or temporary staff housing) and food, in accordance with local quarantine measures,” the company said.
The group also launched a microsite where advisories, guidelines, forms, and frequently-asked questions on COVID-19 can be accessed by team members.
Earlier, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III lauded several big conglomerates, including the Aboitiz Group of Companies, which agreed to give their employees and workers their full salaries and advanced payment of their 13th/14th month pay amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.