Low-wage workers are most vulnerable during ECQ - CHR
Published Mar 31, 2020 07:22 am
By Czarina Nicole Ong Ki
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed concerned over the low-wage workers in low-income households,who are hardest hit by the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19).
(Keith Bacongco/MANILA BULLETIN)
The CHR said that governments should take policy measures to buffer the economic impact of COVID-19, and create mechanisms to ensure that these workers will not suffer any loss of income.
While others may work from home, employees in retail, restaurants, personal services cannot do the same. What's worse, according to the CHR, is that those belonging in this situation tend to have lower wages.
The CHR added that the Human Rights Watch has long urged governments to guarantee paid sick and family leave to enable workers to care for themselves and sick family members especially during this pandemic. Without this paid sick leave, poor and marginalized workers are placed in a difficult situation.
One option, according to the CHR, is to provide direct cash payments to compensate some lost working hours. This is what the U.S. government did during the 2008 recession.
At the same time, the CHR said that low-wage workers need protection from the consequences of being let go by employers when they cannot work due to their sickness or the sickness of their family members.
(Keith Bacongco/MANILA BULLETIN)
The CHR said that governments should take policy measures to buffer the economic impact of COVID-19, and create mechanisms to ensure that these workers will not suffer any loss of income.
While others may work from home, employees in retail, restaurants, personal services cannot do the same. What's worse, according to the CHR, is that those belonging in this situation tend to have lower wages.
The CHR added that the Human Rights Watch has long urged governments to guarantee paid sick and family leave to enable workers to care for themselves and sick family members especially during this pandemic. Without this paid sick leave, poor and marginalized workers are placed in a difficult situation.
One option, according to the CHR, is to provide direct cash payments to compensate some lost working hours. This is what the U.S. government did during the 2008 recession.
At the same time, the CHR said that low-wage workers need protection from the consequences of being let go by employers when they cannot work due to their sickness or the sickness of their family members.