MANILA- Filipino workers with reduced or no income due to the COVID-19 lockdown can go straight to the Department of Labor and Employment for a one-time cash aid if their employers refuse to seek help for them, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Tuesday.

Bello said workers can contact the agency directly to get the one-time P5,000 cash assistance.

"We advise the worker na sabihan 'yung mga kasamahan niyang worker na sila na lang mag-submit sa amin. Tapos ipapadala na lang namin ito [via money remittance]. Di na namin ipapadaan sa employer," he said in a virtual press briefing.

(We advise workers to come together and submit the requirement to us then we will send the money to them. We will no longer involve their employers.)

DOLE initially asked employers to request for cash assistance for their employees by submitting a proof of payroll.

Some workers, however, complained that their employers have refused to submit the requirements for the cash aid.

• Some employers refuse to get P5,000 lockdown aid for workers: labor dept

Upon approval of the cash assistance request, Bello said DOLE can send the money via remittance centers within 2 days.

• P5,000 cash aid: Labor chief says proof of payroll needed