THE Department of Labor and Employment Central Visayas office (DOLE-7) said it issued certificates of unemployment (COUs) to 1,294 displaced employees in Cebu in January 2021.
In a statement, DOLE-7 said the top reason for the involuntary separation of these workers was retrenchment.
Other causes of displacement were closure of business, redundancy, economic downturn, and disease or illness of workers.
A COU is a document issued to affected workers, who are looking to apply for payment of unemployment insurance or involuntary separation benefit with the Social Security System (SSS).
DOLE - 7 Director Salome Siaton urged other displaced workers to apply for COUs in order to avail themselves of the SSS benefit.
"All employees, including kasambahay and OFWs, who are covered by the grant of unemployment insurance or involuntary separation benefit, may apply for DOLE certification of involuntary separation," said Siaton.
DOLE said applicants are required to send to DOLE one copy of their valid ID and a copy of the notice of termination issued by the employer.
In the absence of the notice of termination, DOLE said the applicant may instead send a duly notarized affidavit of termination of employment.
Unemployment in the Philippines soared during the lockdowns imposed by the government to curb transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). (HDT / SunStar Philippines)