Unemployment Benefits
Until 2018, there were no explicit unemployment benefits in Philippine law; while provisions were made earlier in 1954, these were subsequently removed in later amendments. However, as of 2018 and the passing of Republic Act 11199, or the Social Security Act, unemployed private employees were entitled to unemployment insurance and benefits under the Social Security System in the form of monthly cash payments equal to 50% of the average salary, provided that they were under 60 years of age and had paid at least 36 months of contributions, and that they were not already entitled to other, higher-paying benefits.
Furthermore, during the pandemic, unemployed workers were entitled to payments of up to eight thousand pesos if this would not result in them being denied the aforementioned benefits.
Source: §14 of the Social Security Act 2018 (Republic Act No. 11199, 2018), §4-C1 of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Republic Act No. 11494, 2020)
