DOLE Guidelines on Financial Assistance for Work Interruptions due to COVID-19

Recognizing the need to alleviate financial burdens on both employers and employees in light of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, the Department of Labor of Employment issued on 16 March 2020 Department Order No. 209 series of 2020 providing “Guidelines on the Adjustment Measures Program for Affected Workers Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019” (guidelines for “CAMP” / “DO 209”) and clarificatory guidelines through Labor Advisory No. 12 series of 2020. CAMP will take effect on 21 March 2020, and shall apply retroactively from January 2020.

The most prominent feature of DOLE’s CAMP is the financial support to be extended to Affected Workers – regardless of employment status – whose employment face or suffer interruption due to COVID-19, such as retained workers and suspended workers as defined in DO 209.

In an earlier advisory, the DOLE ordered the use of employees’ leave credits to cover unworked days during the quarantine period. Under CAMP, there shall be financial assistance of one-time lump sum of Php5,000 per employee, which may be used to cover the days which are in excess of the workers’ paid leave credits. Large establishments are highly encouraged to cover the full wages of all its employees during the one (1) month community quarantine.

Affected Establishments or those private establishments that have implemented flexible work arrangements or temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic are qualified to avail themselves of the financial assistance under CAMP subject to compliance with the documentary requirements which must be submitted online to the appropriate DOLE Regional Office or any of its Provincial/Field Offices.

The applications shall be evaluated by the appropriate DOLE Regional or Field Office within three (3) working days, which then shall approve or deny the applications based on the following grounds:

1. Ineligibility;
2. Misrepresentation of facts in the application; or
3. Submission of falsified or tampered document.

Employees of establishments which are issued Notices of Approval shall receive the financial assistance directly in their payroll accounts through bank transfer from the DOLE Regional Office within two (2) weeks upon receipt of the Notice of Approval.

The DOLE Regional Office shall issue a Notice of Completion via e-mail to the Affected Establishments after completion of financial support.

CAMP also includes an after-crisis employment facilitation program for affected workers which shall implement job matching, referral, and placement services for local or overseas employment.

Click here to read the entire text of DOLE DO No. 209 series of 2020 and hereto read Labor Advisory No. 12, series of 2020.

See also PEZA MC No. 2020 – 015 here for CAMP guidelines for workers in locator enterprises.