PH firms able to extend support to employees amid pandemic
Local businesses in the Philippines were able to extend support to their employees and retained or added workers despite the decline in their earnings during the pandemic, according to a survey conducted by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Institute of Corporate Directors, and Makati Business Club (MBC).
Health support for regular workers— including free vaccines, testing, treatment, medicines, and provision of personal protective equipment — was put as the top priority of 68% of company executives in the country.
Meanwhile, 43% of respondents said that they have provided advances and loans to their staff and below 10% gave out specific allowances and quarantine leaves. About 45% of the respondents, on the other hand, said that they continued to pay non-reporting employees.
Additionally, 18% adopted a remote work model immediately and 10% supported the needs of their employees while shifting to a work-from-home arrangement.
MAP Shared Prosperity subcommittee Chairman Rex Drilon said that the survey results show that the Filipino business community is “caring and compassionate” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was further emphasized when 55% of local businesses reported that they kept and even increased the number of their employees despite reporting a decline in earnings during the past year.
