Lapid wants waiver of gov’t fees for jobseekers who lost jobs amid COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid wants Republic Act 11261, or the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act, amended to extend the waiver of fees and charges for job seekers who lost their employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Senate Bill 2090, all government agencies and instrumentalities, including Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), Local Government Units (LGUs), and government hospitals will not collect fees or charges from jobseekers who lost their jobs during the pandemic.

The waiver of payment is for fees paid in connection with the application and the granting of licenses, proof of identification, clearances, certificates, or other documents usually required in the course of employment locally or abroad.

“Dapat nang saklolohan ang mga kababayan nating nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa pandemyang ito. Mag-iisang taon na simula nang unang ipatupad ng ating gobyerno ang lockdown dahil sa COVID 19 pandemic pero kahit wala ng lockdown,  hanggang ngayon dama pa rin ng marami sa ating mga kapatid ang hirap lalo na ang mga biglang nawalan ng trabaho,” said Lapid in a statement.

(We should help our countrymen who’ve lost their jobs because of the pandemic. It’s been almost a year since the government first placed the country under lockdown because of COVID-19 but even before the pandemic our fellow citizens have struggled especially those who’ve lost their jobs.)

According to the October 2020 Labor Force Survey, underemployment and unemployment rates were at 14.4% and 8.7%, respectively.

The National Capital Region, Ilocos Region, and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) were the three regions that were hit worse with unemployment hitting rates of 12.4 percent, 11.5%, and 11%, respectively.

/MUF