Employees can now apply directly to DOLE for one-time cash aid

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will give a one-time cash aid for employees affected by the COVID-19 enhanced community quarantine.

File photo: Captured by OnePlus 7

DOLE will provide cash assistance during the lockdown crisis

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Tuesday that Filipino workers with less or no income because of the pandemic can avail of the cash assistance. Previously, the government agency was pushing employers to submit avail the aid for their employees by submitting their payroll.

However, the labor department received reports that there are employers who did not want to comply with the payroll submission requirement. Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said it can be due to the fact that the payroll could show if an employer is not paying the correct wage.

According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III last Tuesday, affected workers can head straight to DOLE to apply for cash assistance. He further explained during a virtual press briefing,

We advise the worker na sabihan 'yung mga kasamahan niyang worker na sila na lang mag-submit sa amin. Tapos ipapadala na lang namin ito [via money remittance]. Di na namin ipapadaan sa employer.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises with 200 workers and below will be put in priority during the application process. The submission has no deadline while individual applicants will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, the subsidy amount will depend on the daily minimum wage. Below is the table of the complete breakdown per region.

Cash subsidy according to daily salary

Sources: ABS-CBN News Online, PTV Facebook