ILOILO CITY—The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-6) said that more than 6,000 people have lost their jobs in Western Visayas region as local businesses cannot cope with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
DOLE-6 Information Officer Niezel Sabrido told the Manila Bulletin on Thursday that the jobs lost were from 640 companies that permanently closed or had to downsize their operations.
Of the more than 6,000, almost 1,400 jobs were lost as local companies had to permanently close their businesses. There were also 4,800 laid-off workers from companies that had to reduce their labor force.
Sabrido said majority of job losses were in the hotel and restaurant industries.
As per area, the city and province of Iloilo is seen to have the number of most job cuts.
Aklan province also had significant job losses due mostly to businesses affected by the low turnout of visitors in Boracay Island, the country’s premier tourist destination in Malay town.
There are also job cuts in Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental provinces as well as the city of Bacolod.
With businesses gradually opening up under the new normal, DOLE-6 remains upbeat.
“We hope there won’t be additional job losses in the next report,” said Sabrido.