By Leslie Ann Aquino
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has already displaced nearly 2.5 million workers.
Department of Labor and Employment (MANILA BULLETIN)
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bureau of Local Employment said that as of May 8, there are already 2,498,441 workers from 93,621 establishments affected by the crisis.
"As of 08 May 2020, about 78% or 73,065 of establishments with 1,668,082 workers were temporarily closed," DOLE Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said
She said the remaining 22% or 20,556 establishments (with 830,359 employees) adopted flexible work arrangements.
The National Capital Region had the most number of affected workers with 894,905 followed by Central Luzon with 293,383 workers; and Davao Region with 205,063 workers.
Data from DOLE BLE also revealed that majority of the affected establishments are under wholesale and retail trade (23% or 20,457), and accommodation and food service activities (20% or 17,395).
The DOLE earlier said more than 1 million workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have received cash assistance from the government.
The Labor department said these workers belong to the formal and informal sectors, including overseas Filipino workers.