Labor groups to next admin: End endo, please

CEBU, Philippines —  Partylist group Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is hoping that the next administration will really end the practice of contractualization in the country’s labor sector.

Lawyer Nora Analyn Demeterio-Diego, vice president of ALU-TUCP Central Visayas, said they will file another bill to end contractualization after President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the Security of Tenure bill.

“So sa sunod nga Kongreso, balik na sad ta og file niana and we hope nga sa kon kinsa man ang mosunod nga manglingkod dinha sa Kongreso, sa Senado ug sa kinatas-an nga pwesto sa atong nasud nga suportahan ug ihatag na ang dugay na nga gipangayo sa atong mga mamumuo nga mo-end na ang endo (end of contract) finally,” Diego said at a Labor Day parade yesterday.

“Endo” is a short term usually used for end-of-contract arrangement. Labor groups have been pushing to end endo and instead promote regularization of employees.

Aside from contractualization, ALU-TUCP also hopes that the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) will grant the wage increase petition proposed by labor groups in Central Visayas.

The RTWPB is set to hold another wage increase hearing this May 6 in Cebu city.

“Base pud sa history nato, wala pa gyud na mahtiabo nga bisan og katunga lang or ¼ lang sa gi-petition nga umento nga na-approve sa RTWPB but we are hoping nga bisan og gamay man lang nga naa pud gamay nga increase,” Diego said.

Jobs Fair

Meanwhile, thousands of jobseekers flocked to the “Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan” job and business fair initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment-7 at SM City Cebu yesterday.

Among them was first-time jobseeker John Estamosa, a graduate of Fine Arts who was applying as a call center agent.

Estamosa kept his hopes high that he would be hired and eventually have his own source of income to help his family.

Another jobseeker was Selena Bahagas, who lost her job as a cashier during the pandemic and is now looking for opportunities to work abroad.

DOLE-7 officer-in-charge assistant regional director Emmanuel Ferrer said that around 4,000 local jobs and 7,000 overseas jobs, mostly nurses, were available during the jobs fair at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall.

As of 12 noon yesterday, nine were hired on the spot, Ferrer said.

Anna Liza Oribia, who was one of those hired on the spot, was thankful for the job fair for giving her the chance to be employed at a time of pandemic.

DOLE-7 would later post on its Facebook page that due to an overwhelming number of on-site applicants for overseas vacancies, there was “a high possibility that they cannot cater everyone until 5 p.m.”

However, it added: “Worry no more because you can apply online through the POEA portal. Kindly see the attached photo for the procedure.”

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III recognized the efforts and sacrifices made by the workers in spite of the threats brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his message for the Labor Day, Bello celebrated the importance of the workforce in keeping the economy afloat, as well as providing essential services to the Filipino people.

“Matinding hamon ang aging hinaharap sa nakalipas n dalawang taon. Marami dito ay ating napagtagumpayan dahil sa pinamalas na tapang at katatagan ng manggagawang Pilipino,” said Bello in his message as read by DOLE undersecretary and DOLE-7 regional director Victor Del Rosario.

Bello also assured the workers that the department will be relentless in its commitment to upholding the rights and safeguarding the welfare of the Filipino workers.

Peaceful

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) assessed the Labor Day celebration yesterday to be generally peaceful despite the holding of several rallies.

Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, deputy director for operations of CCPO, said that aside from labor groups, police were also able to monitor supporters of political aspirants who staged rallies.

As of yesterday noon, police had monitored rallies in downtown Cebu City, particularly in front of Metro Gaisano and another in the vicinity of University of San Jose-Recoletos.

A group of supporters of an independent councilor aspirant and another group also held rallies near the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

There were also pro-government rallies yesterday, according to Parilla.

“So far, maayo ra man ang dagan sa atong pag-monitor sa kasaulogan sa Labor Day,” he said.

A civil disturbance management team was on standby in case there was a need to control rowdy crowds, but it was not deployed yesterday as the rallies turned out to be orderly and peaceful.

“Kay atong CDM, gamiton ra nato og pangpang-disperse, but so far, malinawon ra man ang pagpahigayon. Then gitagaan sad nato silag higayon nga ilang mapagawas ilang sentimento,” said Parilla.

CCPO also alerted police stations whose jurisdictions include areas where rallies are usually conducted, among which are Abellana Police Station, Waterfront Police Station, and Carbon Police Station. – Iris Hazel M. Mascardo and Le Phyllis F. Antojado, Rowena D. Capistran,  JMD (FREEMAN)