By The Numbers: Impact of COVID-19 on labor sector

Bookmark this page to watch the discussion on Wednesday, April 28

Unemployment peaked at an all-time high of 17.7% in April 2020, equivalent to 7.3 million jobless Filipinos.

Nearly a year later, in February 2021, the unemployment rate improved to 8.8% or 4.2 million people without jobs, but the figure still rose month-on-month from January.

In this episode of By The Numbers, Rappler business reporters Aika Rey and Ralf Rivas talk to Josua Mata, secretary general of Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, to discuss the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the labor sector.

As Labor Day nears, workers are calling for an additional round of cash aid, while some groups have been asking for a wage hike.

Another proposal is for the government to impose a so-called wealth tax on the Philippines’ richest, which groups argue would boost the country’s financial position. – Rappler.com