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MANILA - Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello on Monday urged employers to avail of financial assistance for workers affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

All companies in the formal sector, regardless of size, can request for cash assistance, Bello told DZMM. A proof of payroll is needed, he said.

The Department of Labor and Employment can provide a one-time cash assistance of P5,000 per employee who was out of work because of the lockdown, he said.

"Mismong employer nila ang magpapadala ng payroll. Tapos magpapadala kami ng pera sa employer para sa mga empleyado na hindi nakapasok dahil sa quarantine," Bello said.

(The employers will send a copy of the payroll. Then ,we will send them money for employees who were not able to report to work due to the quarantine)

"Pag hindi nakapasok eh talagang tulungan din natin basta ang empleyado ay hindi nakapasok dahil sa quarantine ay kasama sa cash assistance ng DOLE," he added.

(As long as the employee wasn't able to report to work due to the quarantine)

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Businesses and public transport were ordered shut until April 12 during the lockdown of Luzon, home to the half of the country's 100 million population.

The government earlier offered disinfection jobs to displaced informal workers who will be paid minimum wage.

Overseas Filipinos workers who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 are also entitled to a $200 cash assistance, approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force, pending the approval and the release of funds by the Department of Budget and Management, Bello said.

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