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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Ex-VP Binay proposes grants to MSMEs for salaries of workers

Ex-VP Binay proposes grants to MSMEs for salaries of workers

Published Jan 10, 2022 01:55 pm

Former Vice-President and senatorial candidate Jejomar Binay has grants for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) which were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic so they can continue giving salaries to their workers even when alert levels are raised.

Binay said the money can be given directly to workers, and MSMEs will not be required to pay the government back.

"By now, it should be clear that easing restrictions whenever the number of COVID cases decline while failing to provide adequate social and health protection for workers and small businesses is a formula for disaster. It’s doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results," Binay said in a statement released on Monday, Jan. 10.

He said the MSMEs are among the first to be dislocated when infections rise and quarantine alert levels are raised, so the government should plan a long-term program that will help the businesses and their workers.

"I propose extending grants for MSMEs so they can continue paying their workers even when they are forced to downscale or shut down. The money can be given directly to the workers. Since this is a grant, the MSMEs will not be obligated to repay the government. This has been done in Makati,” he added.

Binay was referring to the Makati Assistance and Support Businesses program initiated by the city government in 2020.

"Government should also subsidize the cost of testing for MSME workers so they won’t need to worry about paying out of pocket or burdening employers with the cost of testing," Binay said.

He also said that tax breaks should be given to MSMEs until the state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

"If we do not take these steps, there will be a breaking point. You cannot expect the economy to recover when businesses are closed and workers are sick," Binay said.

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Jejomar Binay covid-19 SMALL BUSINESSES
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