MANILA, Feb. 2 The labor department will review the proposal of various labor groups in providing a wage subsidy in the private sector considering the crippling effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III yesterday said the proposals of the labor groups for a wage subsidy are better rather than an increase in the salary of the workers because some employers might have difficulties sustaining it and eventually will lead to closure.
“If we receive a formal request from the labor groups, first, we will discuss this with the concerned government agencies and explore possibilities on how we can address this proposal. It will all depend on the capacity of the government,” Bello said.
The Nigerian Government is worried about the possibility of a scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, in the country.
Mr Timipre Sylva, who is the Minister of State for Petroleum, raised the concern on Monday at a late-night meeting between the government and leaders of the organised labour.
The meeting was a continuation of the series of dialogues between both parties in a bid to persuade the labour unions not to go on strike over the increase in the price of petrol and electricity tariff.
At the resumed sitting, the Technical Committee on PMS presented its report while the Committee on Electricity Tariff said its work was ongoing.
Delta pledges robust relationship with labour
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has shelved plans to commission some projects in the state due to the death of his father, Arthur Okorie Uzoma Okowa and Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Tim Kome Owhefere.
Governor Okowa had concluded plans to commission some completed roads, schools and other infrastructure across the state on February 2, 2021 (tomorrow) before the deceased passed on last Thursday.
Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, who was accompanied by Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Olisa Ifeajika and Senior Special Assistant on Media, Nelson Egware, disclosed this during a visit to The Guardian in Lagos, saying Okowa would reschedule the commissioning of the projects.
Research from countless organisations over the course of the Covid pandemic has consistently pointed to a hefty gender disparity when it comes to who is bearing the biggest economic burden from the crisis, with repeated warnings that a decade or more of progress on women’s economic empowerment is set to be thrown into reverse. One of the main reasons cited for this is that the virus increases the load of unpaid domestic care, which is disproportionately carried by women. This, among other factors, means that women’s jobs are more vulnerable than those of men. The latest in a long string of evidence on this is a recent survey carried out by the Trades Union Congress, which found that nearly one in five working mothers have had to reduce their employment hours during lockdown. Meanwhile, seven out of 10 eligible mothers who have asked for furlough said their request had been refused by their employer.
Labor group appeals for more wage subsidy for workers
Published January 31, 2021 8:35pm Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is now appealing for the government to provide subsidies for workers, given the continued impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Napakahalaga po ng tulong na cash susbidy mula sa gobyerno. Makakatulong ito sa mangagawa na makabili ng mga basic commodities na kinakailangan nila, Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesperson said in a report by JP Soriano on GMA s 24 Oras Weekend on Sunday. For its part, the Bureau of Local Employment said it provided P5,000 to over a million employees of the formal sector under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, with over 400,000 more employees set to receive assistance in the coming months, mostly from the tourism sector.