Philippines
ILO and private sector join hands to protect typhoon-affected workers
The private sector helps ensure that people in Haiyan-affected areas do not fall victims again of work-related illnesses or accidents. Consuelo Foundation, Ace Hardware and SM Cares partner with ILO to provide much-needed emergency employment for thousands of families and to promote safety and health.
A month after Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) struck the Philippines, the International Labour Organization (ILO) continues to work with partners including those in the private sector in ensuring the safety of workers under the Emergency Employment Programme in disaster-stricken communities.
The ILO has previously reported that 5.9 million workers were affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), 2.6 million of which were in vulnerable employment or living near the poverty line even before the disaster struck.
The Philippine government, with the support of the ILO, has rolled out emergency employment in areas most affected by the super typhoon.
Workers under the emergency employment programme are equipped with personal protective equipment such as masks, hats, gloves, boots and long sleeved shirts. These workers are employed for at least 15 days. They are ensured of minimum wages and social security benefits as required by national laws and standards.
The Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation, has worked alongside the ILO and has so far donated Php1.5 million to provide the personal protective equipment of the workers. The amount was already used to purchase almost 3,000 sets to ensure safety and health of workers in Negros Occidental, Northern Cebu, Palawan, Tacloban and Bohol.
Each set includes mask, hat, a pair of gloves and boots and long sleeved shirts.
"It is Consuelo Foundation's privilege to partner with ILO in providing much-needed emergency employment for thousands of families in the Haiyan-affected areas in the Philippines. As it will take time to rebuild the affected provinces and to get the people back to their former sources of livelihood, the children need our help," Atty. Carmela Andal-Castro, Managing Director of the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation, said.
She added that the Consuelo Foundation will be embarking on a long-term disaster response project to assist affected families in rebuilding their lives.
Ace Hardware and SM Cares have also thrown their support in providing personal protective equipment and tools to the workers.
"Putting money in their pocket to support their families is one thing. However, as these workers start clearing and rebuilding their communities, we need to ensure that they are given personal protective equipment," said Lawrence Jeff Johnson of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
"In this disaster, there has been significant loss of lives and livelihoods. We don't want these workers to fall victims again of work-related illnesses or accidents. Clearly, it is not just the role of government given the massive damage after the super typhoon. The contributions of Consuelo Foundation, Ace Hardware and SM Cares are vital in ensuring safety and health of typhoon affected workers," concluded Johnson.
Ms Minette Rimando
ILO Country Office for the Philippines – Manila
+63 2 580 9905 or 580 9900
Email
Ms Karen Lapitan
ILO Country Office for the Philippines – Tacloban
Email
The ILO has previously reported that 5.9 million workers were affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), 2.6 million of which were in vulnerable employment or living near the poverty line even before the disaster struck.
The Philippine government, with the support of the ILO, has rolled out emergency employment in areas most affected by the super typhoon.
Workers under the emergency employment programme are equipped with personal protective equipment such as masks, hats, gloves, boots and long sleeved shirts. These workers are employed for at least 15 days. They are ensured of minimum wages and social security benefits as required by national laws and standards.
The Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation, has worked alongside the ILO and has so far donated Php1.5 million to provide the personal protective equipment of the workers. The amount was already used to purchase almost 3,000 sets to ensure safety and health of workers in Negros Occidental, Northern Cebu, Palawan, Tacloban and Bohol.
Each set includes mask, hat, a pair of gloves and boots and long sleeved shirts.
"It is Consuelo Foundation's privilege to partner with ILO in providing much-needed emergency employment for thousands of families in the Haiyan-affected areas in the Philippines. As it will take time to rebuild the affected provinces and to get the people back to their former sources of livelihood, the children need our help," Atty. Carmela Andal-Castro, Managing Director of the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation, said.
She added that the Consuelo Foundation will be embarking on a long-term disaster response project to assist affected families in rebuilding their lives.
Ace Hardware and SM Cares have also thrown their support in providing personal protective equipment and tools to the workers.
"Putting money in their pocket to support their families is one thing. However, as these workers start clearing and rebuilding their communities, we need to ensure that they are given personal protective equipment," said Lawrence Jeff Johnson of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
"In this disaster, there has been significant loss of lives and livelihoods. We don't want these workers to fall victims again of work-related illnesses or accidents. Clearly, it is not just the role of government given the massive damage after the super typhoon. The contributions of Consuelo Foundation, Ace Hardware and SM Cares are vital in ensuring safety and health of typhoon affected workers," concluded Johnson.
For more information please contact:
Ms Minette Rimando
ILO Country Office for the Philippines – Manila
+63 2 580 9905 or 580 9900
Ms Karen Lapitan
ILO Country Office for the Philippines – Tacloban