Sen. Cynthia Villar yesterday appealed to the government to reopen the construction industry to help its low-income workers cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Villar said she agrees with the clamor to urgently address the plight of stranded and displaced workers, especially those from the construction sector, who are now experiencing hunger and undue stress from being away from their families.
“I agree with those who say that there is a ‘humanitarian crisis in the making’ in the current situation of those laborers who are not only stranded in their workplaces away from their families, but cannot help themselves and their families since they have no source of income. It’s doubly difficult for them,” Villar said.
The administration ally said aside from assisting the stranded workers in returning to their homes in the provinces, she said they should also be given the option to return to their work.
“Many of them would rather stay here and continue working to provide for their families. So, those are willing to stay should be allowed to work.” (Vanne Terrazola)
