Several business establishments in Western Visayas have closed down and terminated their workers due to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
From March to June 8 this year, 23 businesses in the region declared permanent closure, data from the Deparment of Labor and Employment (DOLE-6) showed.
The data also revealed that 40 establishments decided to downsize their workforce.
The shutdown and retrenchment affected a total of 488 workers.
According to Niezel Sabrido, DOLE-6 senior labor and employment officer, those workers who lost their jobs received separation benefits from their respective employers.
“Under our Labor Code, kinahanglan maghatag sang separation pay ang aton mga employers kon magclose na sila,” she said.
The total number of businesses in the country that opted to cease their operations is now at 2,060, affecting more than 69 thousand workers.IMT
