Jollibee sets P1B employee COVID-19 support fund

TONY Tan, founder of Jollibee

Homegrown fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. has set aside P1 billion as emergency response fund for its own employees as well as those of its partner-enterprises amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

With this emergency fund, employees will continue to receive their full month’s salary within the duration of the “enhanced community quarantine” from March 15 to April 15. They will also receive their 13th month pay by April 30.

Affected employees can also convert their leave credits in advance and may file for personal leaves when necessary until the situation normalizes.

This employee package covers all work teams of Jollibee group’s offices, stores, commissaries, and logistics centers, including the senior citizens and persons with disability (PWD) assigned to stores under the joint employment program with local government units. The same assistance will also be extended to JFC’s partner employers in the stores and other sites to provide financial support to their respective employees during this time.

“This public health crisis challenges us as a company and as a nation in ways we’ve never seen before,” said JFC chair and founder Tony Tan Caktiong. “In these times, we know how people are worrying about their safety and how to take care of their families. We want to help lessen their worries and we are setting up this fund to help them through this difficult time. We are moved by how different individuals and sectors are taking action to help one another and we are one with them in supporting the government as we fight COVID together. We will overcome these challenges together.”

In a letter to employees, JFC CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong said: “We know that this is a very unsettling time for everyone, but let me assure you that we are doing all we can in JFC to help you and your families and our customers during this period.”

“To all our frontliners in the stores, to our teams in supply chain, and to all our support center members, thank you. You continue to bring pride and joy to JFC as you help give access to our quality food to the public,” Tanmantiong continued.

Earlier, JFC announced a P100-million food donation from its brands to front-liner healthcare workers and on-ground checkpoint personnel.