More funds for sugar workers’ benefits OK’d

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has approved additional funds for the maternity and death benefits of workers in the sugar industry nationwide.

This developed after Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma signed an order authorizing the DOLE’s bureau of workers with special concerns to release additional reserve funds amounting to P6.8 million and P11.76 million for the maternity and death benefits of sugar workers, respectively.

The funds will be allocated in DOLE’s offices in Bicol, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Davao Region, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) as well as in Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

Earlier, the labor department increased the maternity and death benefits of sugar workers from P5,000 to P8,000, and from P10,000 to P14,000, respectively.