New DOLE program to help ‘distressed’ businesses struggling to pay workers—Tolentino

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has rolled out a new program that aims to help struggling businesses pay their workers.

DOLE launched the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Flagship Innovations-Sagip Trabaho Program in a printing company in Valenzuela, which benefited from the initiative.

DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino explained that under the program, the department will cover the workers’ three-month salary in a bid to ease the burden of wage hikes and economic conditions on businesses.

In exchange, the firm must ensure that its operations will continue over the next six months.

Tolentino said business owners may apply online to be a program beneficiary.

“Papatunayan nila (business owners) na sila ay distressed. Papatunayan nila na ‘yung kanilang financial capacity ay hindi kakayanin,” he said in a chance interview. (Business owners have to prove that they are distressed and that they lack financial capacity.)

The program will initially be rolled out in Metro Manila and Central Visayas

“Ito pa lang ‘yung huling nagkaroon ng wage increase na sinasabing may impact,” Tolentino said. (These areas had wage increases which reportedly have an impact.)

Mega-Jesta Prints owner Ma. Teresita Ortico expressed gratitude for qualifying for the program, saying it will help her pay about half of her 60 workers.

She said the application process took less than a month.

“Sa dami ng employees, hindi naman namin kayang ibigay lahat ng wage increase,” Ortico said. “Naipagpatuloy pa po namin ‘yung service namin as a printing company [dahil sa program].” (With numerous employees, we cannot provide everyone with wage increases. With the program, we were able to continue our printing services.)

Valenzuela Mayor Wes Gatchalian welcomed the program, noting that the city is home to around 15,000 factories and business establishments.

He said the program balances out the needs of both employers and employees.

“Ramdam nila [negosyante] ‘yung epekto ng pagtaas po ng krudo; ramdam po nila ‘yung kahinaan ng bansa natin sa export. Marami po sa mga negosyo rin po dito ay nanganganib, 90 percent po sa kanila ay micro, small, and medium enterprise lamang,” the mayor said.

(Business owners feel the effect of rising fuel costs. They feel the country’s vulnerabilities in export. Many businesses are at risk, 90 percent of them are micro, small, and medium enterprises.)