More workers to lose jobs this year – labor group

by Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star), 11 Jan 2021

MANILA, Philippines — A labor group fears a “worse” unemployment situation in the country this year, unless the government enforces the necessary intervention measures.

Federation of Free Workers (FFW) president Sonny Matula warned that more workers will lose their jobs than last year if the government will not fund job facilitation programs.

Matula said without support from the government, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which comprise a majority of firms nationwide, would not be able to survive the downturn in business due to the pandemic.

“Our appeal is for a robust budget to address unemployment. If there is no intervention, the economy would fall and small companies would fold up, plunging workers further into poverty,” Matula said in a virtual briefing last Thursday.

“If people don’t have money to spend, the economy won’t run even with a relaxing of the quarantine. There should be stimulus funding,” he said.

With the coronavirus disease pandemic yet to be controlled, Matula said it would be highly unlikely for the private sector to pour in new investments.

The labor leader said only the government has the capability to implement measures that could boost the economy and generate more employment.

“If the government will not do that, we’re looking at worse days ahead,” he warned.

On the other hand, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello expressed optimism that local employment prospects would continue to improve in 2021.

“We expect employment to improve as our economy is now moving,” he said, adding that government’s infrastructure projects are going full blast this year to create more jobs.

Matula said labor groups submitted proposed programs to be included in the national employment recovery plan that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is drafting.

Julius Cainglet, FFW vice president, said their proposal includes the implementation of a “green recovery” program.

“We have to promote jobs that will protect the environment. Economic recovery should come hand in hand with it,” he said.

Cainglet said employment prospects in renewable energy may take time to realize, but government must initiate it.