ILO supports labor programs in typhoon-battered provinces

QUEZON CITY, Dec 9 (PIA) — Government’s emergency employment and cash for work programmes in typhoon ravaged provinces are getting technical and financial support from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Just like in Negros Occidental, Northern Cebu, Leyte and Samar, ILO teams are now working closely with their DOLE counterparts in implementing emergency employment in Northern Palawan.

The Municipality of Coron and the rest of Northern Palawan were pummeled by Yolanda when the super typhoon slammed into Mimaropa.

Out of the 5.9 Million workers affected, ILO has estimated that about 2.6 million were in vulnerable employment and living in or near poverty.

ILO Manila Office Director Jeff Johnson said the collaboration aims to provide affected workers with social protection as well as opportunities to shift from emergency employment to regular work or livelihood activities.

Emergency employment offers workers a minimum of 15 days work with minimum wage, correct personal protective equipment, three months coverage under PhilHealth, Social Security System, and one year of accident insurance.
Work covers cleaning and repairing of schools and clinics, unclogging of canals, and clearing and sorting of debris to support construction and recycling.

“Our aim in implementing emergency employment and livelihood programmes is to enable disaster-stricken families to rebuild their lives, with better access to social protection and sustainable income sources,” said Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

In Leyte and Samar, ILO is augmenting DOLE’s emergency employment that serves at least 17,000 workers.

“Livelihoods is a critical immediate need. I have seen DOLE and the ILO here for the emergency employment and the cash for work programs, so we should already plan and start these economic activities”, said Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman during her recent visit to Coron town,Soliman, along with Secretaries Mar Roxas, Voltaire Gazmin and Joseph Abaya, came to Northern Palawan to observe relief and rehabilitation efforts in the area.

(LBR/LP/PIA4B/Manila)- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=521386582833#sthash.mP7ZOm4d.0UICFRYA.dpuf