Rappler
DOLE sees 5 million jobs losses due to pandemic
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) estimates that 4 to 5 million Filipinos may lose their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III conceded that the number could reach 10 million if the economy continues to suffer.
As of May 20, 2020, at least 2.6 million workers have been temporarily laid off due to business closures and flexible working arrangements.
The service sector, particularly tourism and allied businesses like restaurants and transportation, is expected to be the hardest hit.
DOLE plans to expand its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program to assist affected workers.
The government also aims to stimulate employment by fast-tracking pending infrastructure projects, encouraging construction companies to increase their workforce by 10% to 20% once these resume.
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See how different news organizations are covering this story. Below are the original articles from various Philippine news sources that contributed to this summary.
The unemployment rate in the Philippines is projected to reach double digits, its highest in 15 years, due to the ongoing economic recession.
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The Philippine economy incurred an estimated P1.1 trillion in losses during the first 45 days of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures.
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Okada Manila is laying off over 1,000 employees due to severe financial losses incurred from the coronavirus pandemic.
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The number of displaced workers in the Philippines has reached 2.76 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic and community quarantines.
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