DOLE seeking P6-B fund for employers’ wage subsidy

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is asking for a P6 billion fund for wage subsidies for employers as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate business owners and employees.“Humingi kami ma’am ng I think about P6 billion because this will include a wage subsidy program for the employers, hindi ‘yung (not a) wage subsidy for the employees but wage subsidy for the employers,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel on Thursday when asked on the budget the DOLE is asking for wage subsidies either from the 2022 national budget or the possible Bayanihan 3.

Bello said the DOLE considered the country’s budget limitation in coming up with this proposed amount.

“Syempre we have to be realistic kung ano talaga ang kaya natin (Of course we have to be realistic on what we can really afford)… We have to be conscious of the limitations of our finances,” he added.

He noted that lawmakers sometimes increase the budget allotment for DOLE even as the department requests for a lower amount, “probably because they are aware of the needs of their constituents.”

Bello said the DOLE is still implementing its assistance programs for informal and formal workers and overseas Filipino workers even as the Bayanihan 2 already expired on June 30.

He said most of the amount provided to DOLE under this law was already obligated.

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