The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will have to cut down the number of contact tracers that it will be hiring to only5,000 individuals from the original number of 12,000 contact tracers due to budget constraints.
Bureau of Workers With Special Concerns Director Atty. Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla from DOLE announced the information at Laging Handa’s briefing on Friday.
She said that this number needs to be reduced because the budget for this only covers a month, but the contact tracers will have to work for three months.
“As to the numbers, the initial number given to us by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello is 12,000 people for 30 days, and yesterday, he added 2,000. But the thing is, his idea is these people will be under contract for 30 days,” she said.
“As it turns out, the requirement set by [local government units or LGUs] is for a longer period which is 90 days. So with a budget for 14,000 workers [for 30 days], we have to stretch it for 90 days kaya siguro mga roughly mga limang libo po ang maa-accommodate para magkaroon sila ng mahaba-habang duration na trabaho,” Perida-Trayvilla added.
The labor department first said that it will hire 12,000 contact tracers to be deployed in NCR Plus, but they have to reduce the said number due to the request of some local government units to extend their work until 90 days.
Trayvilla said contact tracers to be hired by LGUs in Metro Manila—the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country—will have a monthly salary of P16,110 based on the daily minimum wage in the region which is P537 a day.
Trayvilla said those to be hired will also be provided an online training with four modules that include: interventions to fight COVID-19 transmission, use of data-gathering and survey tools, as well as effective communication and questioning skills.
To qualify as a contact tracer, one should have a high school diploma and basic knowledge in using mobile phones and the internet. Applicants may apply to the DOLE Public Employment Service.
