The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that they will answer all employee payments who would be asked to leave to follow or to abide by the enhanced community quarantine.
Because of the outbreak of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), thousands of people and over hundreds of companies came to a frenzy; they were all left with little to no option as to how they can operate in the middle of this issue.
But with the help of DOLE, all questions and requests will be fulfilled. Silvestre Bello III, the Secretary of the Labor Department, said that they'll help. He said that DOLE will answer all employee payments without leave credits.
Read: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Will Help More Than 6,000 Workers Who Are Out of Jobs
How the rules are
As per Bello, employees who have leave credits can use it - since they are entitled to it. However, employees who are not regular would not be covered.
Opo, opo, kung anong suweldo nila. Basta yung mga may leave credits, entitled sila diyan, so they will be covered. So, yung mga walang ano, hindi regular employees, hindi po sila covered.”
In Translation: Yes, they'll be given what their salaries are. People who have leave credits, they're entitled to it so they are covered. People who aren't regular, on the other hand woul not be covered.
Requirements to get the assistance from DOLE
Because DOLE will help answer employee payments without leave credits, there should be some sort of proof or evidence coming from their employer that they are asked to push through in not attending work.
Bello said that the only thing people need to present would be the memorandum from their employer. In addition, there needs to be certification that they do not have consumable leave credits any longer.
Yung ano lang, kailangan lang yung memorandum from the employer na mag-quarantine leave. And then they will certify na wala na silang leave credits. So, it will now be the Department of Labor who will subsidize."
In Translation: What they need would be the memorandum from their employer that they're asked to have a quarantine leave. Then, they need to certify that they do not have leave credits anymore; it's where DOLE will take a step and subsidize.
Read: The PRC Cancels and Postpones the Scheduled March and April 2020 Licensure Exams
How it works
Bello clarified how the quarantine leave would work. He explained that the subsidy is actually going to be given to the employers - to the companies so that they can pay their employees.
Moreover, he explained that DOLE will answer the employee payments without leave credits. For instance, when an employee only has four (4) days of leave remaining; and the employee needs to be quarantined for 14 days - DOLE will answer the 10-day remaining requirement of the employee; DOLE will be paying for the leave requirement of the employee.
What about employees who are not regular?
In the event that a certain company will ask an employee who is not regular, there's already a plan laid out for them prepared by DOLE. Bello even clarified that there's a specific program that will be extended for them - he dubbed it as the Emergency Employment Program (EEP).
Read: President Rodrigo Duterte Urged Business Owners and Employers to Give 13th Month Pay in Advance
Bello said that they'll be allowing these people to go to work. However, they'll pay them at the minimum wage. He continued to explain how irregular employees and employees under probation can get this.
Pumunta ka lang sa DOLE at [sasabihin mong] nawalan ka ng trabaho dahil sa suspension of work, so bibigyan ka namin ng trabaho. Maraming maapektuhan niyan. Meron kaming nakalaang budget for that, sa emergency employment program.”
In Translation: Proceed to DOLE's office and tell them that you lost a job because of work suspension. So, we will give you a job. Many people have been affected by this; and in fact, there is a budget laid out for this emergency employment program.
How can interested people avail the program?
To all people who are interested and who are affected by the work suspension, Bello advises them to proceed to the nearest DOLE Regional Office and inquire there. Just follow the steps he mentioned and you'll surely be able to get a job in no time.
Read: LGUs to Provide Public Transport Alternatives For Workers Exempted From Quarantine
As of this moment, the COVID-19 is really taking its toll. Thousands of people are being affected by this. So hopefully, the act that DOLE will answer all employee payments without leave credits is something that we can appreciate.
Let us wait and hope for better and more reliable solutions to the problems we are experiencing.
Source: Pep PH
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