Gatchalian proposes wage subsidies for tourism workers

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the government to consider providing wage subsidies to workers in the tourism and hospitality sectors to prevent widespread layoffs amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Gatchalian emphasized that these subsidies should be directly for employees, not the corporations, to ensure job security.

He suggested that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) should expand its COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) to cover more formal workers.

The senator highlighted the vulnerability of contractual and seasonal workers in the hospitality industry who need government support.

Gatchalian proposed that the government could provide subsidies through corporations to airline workers, such as porters and ground handling staff, to help them sustain their employment and receive some income during the crisis.

He acknowledged that the subsidy might not be equivalent to their full salary but would be crucial for them to overcome the current economic challenges.

The tourism industry, including hotels and airlines, has suffered significant losses due to temporary shutdowns caused by the pandemic.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported a 41 percent decrease in tourist arrivals in February due to the COVID-19 outbreak.