As the economy gets ready to reopen sometime in May when the Luzon-wide lockout is expected to be lifted, a possibility looms that seniors and some young adults could lose their jobs permanently.
Sergio Ortiz Luis, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) said that government rules governing the reopening of businesses appear to discriminate against workers who are 60 years and above and those between 18 to 20.
Senior citizens may be ranked lowest in priority by employers as they are supposed to be high-risk for contracting COVID-19.
But Ortiz-Luis said it appeared to be a discriminatory rule.
Younger workers, ages between 18 to 20, may be in a similar situation. In areas under general community quarantine, only workers between 21 and 59 years old, are allowed to leave home.
“By that simple regulation, you blacklist the 18=20 year olds and the senior citizens from work, which can be permanent, Ortiz Luis pointed out.
Ortiz Luis warned concerned authorities that in an effort to protect these groups, they may unintentionally be discriminating against them.
“ You’re harming them. You’re harming the economy. That (regulation) wasn’t well thought of,” he said.