(Due to its timeliness, we yield this space to the statement of Philippine labor federations marking the World Day for Decent Work yesterday, Oct. 7, 201. – Ed.)
WE, LABOR federations in the Philippines, join workers around the world in the commemoration of the World Day for Decent Work.
Amid the massive joblessness, economic hardships of workers and violations of trade union and human rights, primarily by state forces, we stand together to push for a Decent Work Agenda. The current Duterte administration has the worst record in job generation. The conservative estimate of the current unemployment rate by the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) is 6.9% or 3.1 million jobless Filipinos. The Social Weather Stations (SWS) estimated that there are 13.5 million jobless Filipinos.
As a means to ease the burdens brought about by the pandemic and economic crisis, we demand a P100 daily wage subsidy as an inflation adjustment allowance to the value lost from our wages. We demand Paid Pandemic Leave so that workers will not be forced to go to work in order to survive daily, despite sickness and quarantine protocols.
Moreover, we demand policy changes in terms of wage and job security. We demand a P750 National Minimum Wage to ensure a more equitable basic income for every worker to meet their family’s immediate needs. We demand an end to contractual and casual work, and we demand security of tenure for every worker in every factory in the country.
We demand job creation in the most strategic and vital industries in the country. We demand more jobs in agriculture, local manufacturing, transport and the public sector. We demand dignity of work through consistent and massive regularization and direct hiring of contractual workers.
The Duterte government could no longer use the pandemic or the lack of funds as alibi for its failure in job creation and dignified work. The people know there are funds for jobs, but billions are misused and pocketed. Wednesday night’s (Oct. 6) presidential address was a futile attempt to cover up corruption. The Commission on Audit report and the exposé on the Department of Health and Pharmally show how corrupt the administration could be. Those billions could have been spent to provide relief and create more regular jobs.
We call on every Filipino worker to participate in our struggles for decent work for all. We call on them to form unions, collectively bargain, engage existing government policies on labor and to unite with fellow workers for meaningful change in work, and daily life.
