The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it plans to provide a wage subsidy for workers for three months to help them cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay said the wage subsidy to be provided will depend on the average wage of the employees.

“We based the budget proposal on the average wage of the workers in different sectors…it is between P7,000 to P11,000 subsidy and it will run for three months,” she said during a virtual presser.

Tutay added that the lowest amount they would need from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the program is P62 billion, with 25 percent of the average wage to be subsidized.

“So if it will run for three months and let us say we will shoulder 25 percent of the average wage, P62 billion the lowest we will request,” she said.

Tutay added that the highest budget will be over P180 billion.

“The highest budget will be at P188 billion that would cover 75 percent of the monthly average wage rate. Our proposal is subsidizing 25 percent, 50 percent, or subsidizing 75 percent of the average wage rate,” she said.

Earlier, the DOLE said they are looking to assist some 1.6 million workers and around 30,000 establishments particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).