MORE than 2.8 million workers have been displaced by the community quarantine being imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
As of June 22, 2020, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said 104,163 establishments had to either shut down or adopt flexible work arrangements.
As a result, more than 2.824 million employees were displaced.
Of the total, 82,086 establishments with 1.954 million workers temporarily closed while 23,855 establishments implemented flexible work arrangements for their 990,176 workers.
DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier appealed to businessmen and employers to avoid permanent closures and termination of workers as much as possible amid the crisis.
Bello urged them to instead adopt alternative work schemes, such as reduction of normal workdays or workhours, or resort to job rotations.
Companies were also encouraged to only temporarily or partially close their businesses. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)