Tolentino tells Bello: Provide accurate data on displaced workers

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

Administration Sen. Francis Tolentino has called out the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide accurate data over its ongoing assistance program for workers displaced by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tolentino said while he supports the institutionalization of assistance to disadvantaged and displaced workers, the DOLE should have clear figures for proper implementation.

Tolentino made the remarks during Wednesday’s hearing of the Senate Committee on Labor on Senate Bill No. 1456—dubbed as Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantage/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Act, that seeks to institutionalize DOLE’s assistance program for displaced workers.

During the hearing, Tolentino reminded Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello III that the measure would necessitate “an accurate database on the number of informal workers.”

Tolentino raised concern over the Bureau of Workers and Special Concerns (BWSC) recent pronouncement that the Philippines may only be the ASEAN country left without any formal statistical indicator for informal sector workers.

Tolentino stressed that without an accurate figure regarding the country’s workforce, there would be a problem in implementing the TUPAD Act if it is enacted into law.

“Lumalabas na nagagamit niyo ang self-employed workers na bahagi ng informal sector sa international standard that it should not be included with the informal sector if their business is registered with the government,” said Tolentino.

“Baka naman iyong figures natin ay mali-mali o baka malayo sa realidad kaya baka mali rin ang ating evaluation po dito,” he warned.

Bello allayed fears of any duplication, saying there is a data-sharing agreement between the DOLE and Departments of Social Welfare, and Agriculture.

But Tolentino insisted that the DOLE should come up with an updated data relative to the number of informal sector workers, not just for database purposes, but for proper implementation of the program.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)