THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has approved the release of additional financial aid to sugar industry workers totaling P6.8 million for maternity benefit and P11.76 million for death assistance.
In a statement released on Monday, the DoLE said the additional aid falls under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) funded through a levy on sugar production as contained in an order signed by Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma last Oct. 4.
The additional fund being released for the purpose will increase maternity benefit claims from P5,000 to P8,000 and death benefit claims from P10,000 to P14,000, as prescribed in Department Order No. 236.
The main objective of this order is to enhance social protections for vulnerable workers within the sugar mill, sugarcane field, and migratory sugarcane sectors, particularly in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Iloilo.
Last week, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said it plans to “regulate supply and ensure a fair price [of imported sugar] for farmers and consumers.”
The SRA had said the continued decline of farmgate prices was «to the detriment of sugar farmers» who found it difficult to sell sugar with the fluctuating price of the commodity.
SRA Administrator Pablo Luis S. Azcona earlier approved Sugar Order No. 7, which authorized shipments of 150,000 metric tons of raw sugar that arrived on Sept. 15.
“To promote inclusive and equitable social protection for all workers, DoLE continuously strengthens initiatives for the country’s most vulnerable workers, including those in the sugar mill, sugarcane field, and even the migratory sugarcane workers,” the DoLE said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
