This crisis has taught everyone to always save for the rainy days.
3.4 million employees of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be given P5,000 to P8,000 cash aid by the government.
The Small Business Wage Subsidy Program (SBWS) is a project by the Department of Finance (DOF that was presented by Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 14.
To qualify, employees must be part of the company on or before March 1, 2020 to be eligible for the aid.
“Number two, dapat hindi pa siya nababayaran ng employer niya. So for that month, hindi pa siya nababayaran.
“Number three, lahat covered except iyong on leave and except iyong mga nag-a-avail na ng SSS unemployment benefits.
“Number four, dapat hindi na-retrench, ni-let go, o ifinire-out ng kumpanya ang empleyado at iyong empleyado, hindi rin mag-resign.
“Iyon iyong condition kasi, ang point natin dito, ayaw natin mawalan ng trabaho ang empleyado.”
Nograles clarified that the employees who have received aid from the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will only be given one month subsidy.
The subsidy will be given to the employees every 15th and 30th of the month. The first tranche will be paid out on May 1 to May 15, and the second tranche will be paid out on May 16 to May 30.
This subsidy is equivalent to the emergency subsidy given by the government to the informal sector. Employees from these regions are included in the SBWS:
- Metro Manila
- Central Luzon
- CALABARZON
May this aid given by our government help everyone get through this tough time. Let us be mindful of our needs and wants so we could spend our finances wisely.
