(Photo courtesy of DOLE)
VALENZUELA CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday launched its Sagip-Trabaho program in Valenzuela City, providing wage assistance to help businesses retain workers amid temporary financial and operational difficulties.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the initiative would cover up to 90 days of wages for eligible workers, allowing struggling enterprises to maintain employment while addressing financial challenges.
The program supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to make government assistance more accessible to Filipino workers and businesses.
The initial rollout was conducted through DOLE’s CAMANAVA Field Office, involving 13 partner employers and more than 200 workers.
The launch also served as an orientation for participating employers and employees to ensure they understood the program’s implementation guidelines and job preservation objectives.
Tolentino emphasized the importance of balancing workers’ rights to appropriate wage increases with the need to keep businesses operating.
“We also need to provide, in accordance with the law, the appropriate salary increases for our workers… our goal is for your businesses to continue operating — without having to close down — while also ensuring that your workers receive a salary increase,” Tolentino said during the launch.
The Labor chief also recognized the dedication of participating workers and encouraged them to maintain productivity and commitment to their employers.
“What we ask of our workers is that they continue to demonstrate the same level of devotion, loyalty, diligence, and productivity,” he said.
“It is my hope that local businesses continue to thrive and that our workers become even more diligent,” Tolentino added.
Sagip-Trabaho is an initiative under DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
It aims to prevent job losses and support employment continuity among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) experiencing temporary financial or operational setbacks.
Through the wage assistance mechanism, the government seeks to help participating businesses retain their workforce while providing income support to employees.
The Valenzuela rollout marks the program’s implementation in Metro Manila, with the initial beneficiaries drawn from participating businesses under the CAMANAVA Field Office.
