On the latest Labor Force Survey results, IBON says the curve is flattening
MANILA – IBON said the curve is flattening referring to the employment curve.
In a statement released early Tuesday evening, IBON Executive Director Sonny Africa said there is still less work today than three years ago at 41.2 million in January 2021 compared to 41.8 million in 2017.
He said the number of officially counted as unemployed even increased from 3.8 million in October 2020 to 4 million in January 2021.
“And so did the number of underemployed from 5.7 million to 6.6 million, affirming the decline quality of work to be had,” he added.
The figures, Africa says, show that the easing of quarantine restrictions that the economic managers are putting their hopes on will not be enough to fix the economy that the Duterte administration’s interminable lockdown has run to the ground.
The think tank said the country’s economy still requires the real stimulus that the government refuses to give, the P10,000 cash aid to the 18 million poor and low-income families, subsidized P100 immediate wage relief for workers, cash-for-work programs for unemployed, and hefty support to formal and informal micro, small and medium enterprises, farmers and fisherfolk. (Melo M. Acuña)
IBON Executive Director Sonny Africa. (File Photo/Melo M. Acuna)
Comments