Solon says Covid-19 aid for firms be tied to job security

IF THE government is going to extend temporary relief to private companies reeling from the Covid-19 outbreak, it should do so in return, for the beneficiaries to pledge minimize labor cutbacks, Makati City Representative Luis Campos, Jr. said on Saturday, March 8.

“We are all for the grant of provisional reprieves to travel and tourism-related businesses that have been hit hard by the global health emergency, but we would prefer that the concessions be tied directly to the job security of their employees,” Campos said.

“For instance, it might be viable for establishments to keep all their workers and simply put them on job rotation, instead of permanently laying off some while retaining others full-time,” Campos said.

“This is why we want the Department of Labor and Employment as well as trade unions to get involved in preparing the government’s action plan to support affected firms, so that workers will get strong representation,” Campos said.

Campos was responding to the government’s initial plan to waive airport “landing fees” to help commercial carriers, such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, that have been distressed by international travel restrictions and the sudden plunge in passenger traffic.

Airlines pay landing and take-off fees, among other charges, that are levied by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The “toll fees” at the country’s 42 airports are paid by airlines depending on every aircraft’s gross weight.

Collections are used to help maintain runways in all airports.

The government is also considering possible waivers for hotels as well as importers, according to the Department of Finance. (PR)

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