Workers mark Labor Day celebration with protests

MANILA, Philippines - Thousands of workers across the country marked Labor Day yesterday with protests against what they called the failure of the Aquino administration to address their demands for higher wages and better working conditions.

Workers converged and held rallies at different points in Metro Manila, including Mendiola, Liwasang Bonifacio and outside Quiapo Church where Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle officiated a Mass for workers.

Police said the rallies were peaceful.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s largest labor group, accused President Aquino of being insensitive to the needs of poor workers after emerging reportedly empty-handed from a dialogue with the Chief Executive on the eve of Labor Day.

In last Tuesday’s dialogue with labor leaders at Malacañang, Aquino did not announce any wage increase and even rejected workers’ appeal for more tax relief. He also announced an increase in members’ contribution to the Social Security System.

But Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz maintained that not all workers were dismayed with the results of their Labor Day dialogue with the President.

“In fact, the President assured workers that the government will look at the demands and find solutions to the issues that they have raised,” Baldoz said, adding that another dialogue is set at the end of the month.

She said that finding solutions to problems may take some time as issues may have to be subjected to thorough study or even legislative action.

Baldoz stressed that the government has not stopped looking for ways to improve the condition of workers.

Gerard Seno, TUCP general secretary, criticized the President for warning that 10 million workers stand to lose their jobs once the Security of Tenure bill is enacted into law.

“There are already more than 10 million contractuals. Isn’t this a national calamity already, with one fourth of the workforce not secured in their jobs?” Seno asked.

Federation of Free Workers (FFW) president Sonny Matula said that while the government boasts about the country’s economic gains, it has not done enough to make ordinary workers benefit from them.

“All these economic improvements mean nothing since workers received no significant wage increase, nor were there enough new decent jobs created – contrary to the inclusive growth mantra of the administration,” Matula said.

“We wanted to hear his support for security of tenure of workers since contractualization has become a widespread instrument of exploitation,” he said.

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino president Leody de Guzman also said the government’s much-touted economic growth had little effect on ordinary Filipinos.

The militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) also accused the Aquino administration of not doing enough for workers in its three years in office. The group said the President had even rejected workers’ plea for higher salaries and better job security.

Gabriela party-list Reps. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus called President Aquino “blatantly anti-worker.” 

They said that despite Aquino’s claims of a robust economy, unemployment remains high and jobs for women are limited.

They said National Statistics Office (NSO) records show there are roughly 2.894 million jobless Filipinos. Citing data from the Center for Women’s Resources, they said women comprised only 6.7 percent of the working sector in 2011 and 2012.

“There is no significant change in women’s participation in labor,” Ilagan said.

“With a weak, backward economy and no industries to speak of, the Aquino administration is pushing women towards service-oriented jobs abroad like domestic helpers despite the risks of sexual harassment, human trafficking, and other forms of violence against women,” De Jesus said.

Ilagan said the P426 legally mandated minimum wage is not sufficient to meet the daily living allowance needed by a family of five.

“While a P125 wage hike is insufficient, it will give workers much needed respite,” she said.

The Workers Alliance in Region III (WAR 3) also criticized the government for its anti-labor policies. “We deplore the low pay, continuing practice of contractualization, the policy of two-tiered system, and the widespread firing of workers now being observed not only in Central Luzon but also in other parts of the country, and the no-union, no-strike policy in economic zones,” said WAR 3 spokesman Gary Hernandez.

Human dignity

In his homily, Tagle said human dignity should take precedence over business capital and profit.

“First, in elevating the trends of what is happening in the world of the workers, do not forget that profit is not the first norm. What always comes first is the dignity of a person, who was made in the image of God and was given by God with a holy mission. The primacy of the human person over capital and profit, this is the first,” said Tagle.

He said labor concerns should be brought to international level.

“Since there is now what we call globalization, the concerns and the problems in the world of the laborers now become the concerns of the international agencies, international groups… it seems that this would not be solved if we would limit the actions at this level. It seems we have to elevate the concerns to a higher international level,” he said.

Meanwhile, the TUCP has endorsed nine senatorial candidates. The “labor ticket” of TUCP lists Team PNoy candidates Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Angara, Cynthia Villar, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, and Grace Poe; UNA’s Ejercito, and Bangon Pilipinas’ Eddie Villanueva.

Two other labor unions have endorsed the candidacy of 10 senatorial candidates promising to support the passage of bills seeking to improve the status of workers.

In an advertisement published in The STAR yesterday, the Centrist Democratic Labor Association of the Philippines and the FFW expressed support for Team PNoy candidates Francis Escudero, Cayetano, Aquilino Pimentel III, Angara and Aquino. They also endorsed UNA candidates Ejercito, Richard Gordon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Enrile and Nancy Binay. – With Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, Jess Diaz, Ric Sapnu, Ding Cervantes, Jose Rodel Clapano, Evelyn Macairan, Rey Galupo, Janvic Mateo