On 21 April 2020, ECOP participated in an online Tripartite Executive Committee (TEC) meeting which discussed the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE’s) COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) and the newly implemented (Department of Finance) Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) Program. SBWS applications are being processed by the Social Security System (SSS).
The discussions revolved around the policy gaps and implementation issues of the two amelioration programs intended for workers in the private sector affected by the enhanced community quarantine and the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the Delayed Release of the CAMP Assistance
As a brief background, the DOLE has been giving cash assistance to formal sector workers through its CAMP program by using its own internal funds. On 16 April 2020, DOLE announced that it has stopped accepting requests for CAMP assistance as of 15 April after having been swamped with volumes of applications that quickly depleted its 1.6 Billion Pesos fund for the program.
According to the DOLE, there are around 1.7 million workers from 63,335 establishments nationwide (as of April 17). Of this number, more than 1.2 million workers were affected by temporary closures while over 550,000 of them are on alternative work arrangements such as reduced workdays, rotation, forced leave and telecommuting. About 98% of establishments which reported work displacements are seeking the CAMP assistance for their workers.
So far, around 321,000 workers were given cash assistance amounting to 1.6 billion Pesos. This leaves the assistance fund of almost zero balance as of April 18, prompting DOLE to suspend further applications for the CAMP. According to DOLE, there are roughly 620,000 more workers who have applied for the CAMP, but could no longer be assisted due to insufficiency of funds.
Two major issues on the CAMP assistance:
- Delay in the application process
The DOLE did not really specify why there has been delay on the application process. However, DOLE stated that since its funds are already depleted, they have no choice but to stop processing applications. In addition, DOLE emphasized that they already requested Congress for more funds so that they may assist more affected workers. Specifically, DOLE requested Congress for an amount of 5 Billion Pesos that would cover the remaining 620,000 affected workers.
- Employers fail to apply for the workers
Representatives from the labor groups have expressed their concern regarding employers who fail to apply their workers for the CAMP assistance. In particular, it was raised that some employers refuse to submit their payroll unless and until they are approved. The DOLE reiterated that the employee may file an individual application, and in the process, the DOLE shall be notified of the employer’s failure to apply and then shall get in touch with the employer and inform the same to apply for financial assistance for its workers.
On the SBWS Program
On the SBWS, there has been a unanimous position from both employer and worker representatives that the program is tedious and has too many steps. First and foremost, the SSS website has been down for almost two weeks already considering that the deadline for the SBWS application is on 30 April 2020. Second, an applicant should first obtain a number from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) through their website, which is not an easy process, before going to the SSS. Given our current emergency situation, time is of the essence.
It was also raised that there is no transparency in SBWS. Unlike with the CAMP, representatives of the TEC know exactly who or which office to call in any given situation. Considering that the DOLE has been successful in extending financial assistance to more than 321,000 workers to date, it was agreed that the CAMP was a better avenue to give financial assistance to affected workers than the SBWS.
In sum, all present members of the online TEC Meeting approved and agreed to immediately draft a TIPC Resolution addressed to the COVIID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, stating to augment and transfer funds from the SBWS to the CAMP in the amount of at least 5 billion pesos for the purpose of accommodating and extending financial assistance to the 620,000 affected workers.
It is presumed by the TEC members that the above-mentioned request of 5 billion pesos to financially assist the remaining affected workers should not be an issue/problem given that the amount is minuscule compared to the DOF budget of 53 billion pesos.
The online meeting was attended by ECOP Director-General Jose Roland A. Moya and Legal Services and Legislative Affairs Manager Robert Maronilla.
