Jinggoy to push unemployment insurance

MANILA, Philippines — Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino president and UniTeam senatorial bet Jinggoy Estrada said he will push for the creation of an unemployment insurance program to help thousands of Filipinos retrenched from work due to the pandemic.

Estrada said many businesses closed shop during the pandemic, most of which may never reopen.

“Laid off workers need all the help they can get and insurance can offer relief for the sudden loss of income,” he said.

The veteran lawmaker said he will propose that government subsidize workers who were retrenched due to the crisis.

“Employees pay contributions to the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for their retirement, but they can also approach these institutions during crisis and calamities. However, the assistance they provide are often in the form of loans or cash advances. My plan is to help augment that,” he explained.

Estrada said many countries around the world provide unemployment insurance to their citizens for at least six months until they can find work.

“The main issue here, of course, is funding. If reelected to the Senate, I will help craft a law that will set aside a counterpart fund to match the minimal contributions that employees will pay as insurance premiums,” he said.

Running under the UniTeam Alliance, Estrada is a champion of workers’ rights, having served as chairman of the Senate committee for two consecutive terms.