Japan gives $500K for post-Yolanda livelihood recovery

MANILA, Philippines - The Japanese government and the International Labor Organization (ILO) allocated $500,000 to support the recovery of the Philippines after typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) devastated provinces in Visayas.

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare provided the funds under the ILO/Japan Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific. The fund aims to help countries through social safety nets involving capacity building and networking, enhancing activities of trade unions and employers' organizations and promoting disaster relief.

"The ILO is grateful to the government of Japan for this valuable financial contribution, which will be used to support the affected population who lost their jobs and source of livelihood due to Typhoon Haiyan," ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Yoshiteru Uramoto said.

Uramoto said the ILO estimates that about 5.2 million workers had their livelihoods disrupted or destroyed when typhoon Yolanda struck the country last Nov. 8.

"Among these, 2.3 million were already in vulnerable employment and living in poverty before typhoon Haiyan struck. This funding will help ensure occupational safety and skills training for workers involved in recovery activities," he said.