DOLE: Over 2,000 establishments report closure due to COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — At least 2,068 establishments in the country have so far closed down due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday.

According to Bello, the closure of these establishments rendered some 69,022 workers jobless.

The Labor chief issued the statement as he clarified the figures on the effect of COVID-19 on the labor sector.

“Ang actual number of unemployed ay umaabot lamang po sa 69,000 at ang mga nagsabi na nagsara sila ay 2,068 companies or employers. ‘Yung 7.3 million ay survey palang po ‘yan, hindi pa po ‘yan actual or factual,” Bello said in a televised public briefing.

(The actual number of unemployed reached only 69,000 and those who said they have closed down were 2,068 companies or employers. The 7.3 million earlier reported was just an estimate, it is not actual or factual.)

To cushion the impact of the health crisis on job security, Bello said they are eyeing to subsidize employers in order for them to maintain or even add to their workforce.