DOLE says it appealed to private firms to aid employees on inflation

MANILA, Philippines— Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Wednesday said they have appealed to private companies to help employees with inflationary measures through cash assistance.

Laguesma revealed this after he was asked if similar inflationary aid such as the Senate’s P50,000 employee adjustment aid will be provided for employees in public and private sectors.

“Sa mga pribadong sektor meron din kaming mga panawagan, meron din kaming mga apila sakanila. Lalo na yung mga pwede, kayanin nila na bigyan ng assistance, ayuda ang kanilang sariling mga manggagawa. After all naman, nakikinabang din sila sa serbisyo ng mga manggagawa,” Laguesma said in an interview during the ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para (KNP) sa Manggagawa’ launch in Quezon City.

(To the private sector, we have appealed to them. Especially to those who can afford to give out cash assistance to their employees. After all, they are the ones who benefit from their employees’ services.)

Laguesma said inflationary aid is not an easy feat because there are many factors to consider.

“Dalawa ‘yan tinitignan, kasi syempre lahat na gustong pwedeng gawin ng pamahalaan, gagawin niya. Subalit alam naman po natin na hindi naman po unlimited ang resources ng pamahalaan. Kaya malaking bahagi din ang kontribusyon, ang tulong, [ang] kooperasyon ng ating pribadong sektor,” he said.

(We are looking at two things, as the government is doing everything it can. However, we also know that we do not have unlimited resources, which is why the private sector’s contribution, help, and cooperation would be of great help.)

The DOLE chief also said that cash assistance for public sector workers needs to be examined.

“Sa bahagi ng pamahalaan, kinakailangan nila tingnan at pag aralan. Kasi once na gawin mo yan, dapat tignan mo rin yung bang sektor. Hindi lamang isang partikular na sektor, sapagkat ang pamahalaan ay nagseserbisyo sa ating lahat na mga mamamayan,” he added.

(For the public sector, we need to look into and study the possibility of employees’ cash assistance. Because once you do that, you have to look at other sectors as well. Not only one particular sector because the government is serving all citizens.)

Laguesma also addressed the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines’ (TUCP) clamor for a wage hike. According to the secretary, the administration is weighing the Union’s clamor and the capabilities of employers.

“Alam po naman natin na ang malaking bahagi ng ating mga existing na companies, mga negosyante, ay nandun sa kategorya ng Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) na bamubuo ng mahigit kumulang ng 99 percent ng existing companies sa ating bansa. Kaya binibigyan namin ng ganitong mga klaseng interventions, assistance, para ma-supplement natin yung umiiral na minimum wage. Pero hindi natin din  ipagsasawalang bahala ang kanilang petisyon,” he said.

(We know that a big chunk of our companies is in the MSME category. They make up around 99 percent of enterprises in the country. That is why we create interventions and assistance like this [KNP Para sa Manggagawa], to supplement the existing minimum wage. But we won’t ignore their petition.)

The KNP Para sa Manggagawa direct the farm-to-consumer market to make food and non-food commodities and products by giving a platform to local farmers, fisherfolk, and MSMEs.  The KNP Para sa Manggagawa outlet at the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) compound in Quezon City was launched on Wednesday, the Department of Interior and Local Government said in a statement.

—MJ Soriano,  INQUIRER.net trainee

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