The 333 displaced workers of the Vitarich Dressing Plant, who were hired under the cash-for-work program of the Davao City government and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 11, received their first salary on Friday.
The Vitarich workers, who temporarily lost their income after the city government shut down the dressing plant for operating without a permit, were given jobs under the cash-for-work program of the government.
Each of the 333 workers received their first pay of P5,940 on Friday. Each is paid the minimum salary of P395 per day. They will continue working under the program until the end of the year.
After 90 days when the program ends, the Public Employment System Office (PESO) will match them their skills or qualifications with job opportunities.
Norman Baloro, the spokesperson of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) workers, said that some immediate family members of Vitarich employees also benefited from the program.
âWe have 333 workers of Vitarich but our beneficiaries for the first phase are 358 which includes the immediate family members of the employees,â he said.
Baloro said more family members might be taken in during the second round of the cash-for-work, depending on the budget of the Labor Department.
DOLE-11 Regional Director Raymond Agravante said the displaced workers were given minimal works in their barangays.
âThey were given the minimum salary of P395 per day under the cash-for-work program of DOLE. Their work is very minimal like cleaning the barangay hall or maintaining the cleanliness of the streets,â he said.
One of the cash-for-work beneficiaries, Elma Cambaya, said the program helped them a lot after the dressing plant was closed.
âWe are thankful for this program. This is such a big help for us. I will use this money for our food consumption since we have nowhere to go after the closure of the company,â she said. CIO
