PHL economy is losing big time on traffic jam

LONGER COMMUTE, EQUALS LESS PRODUCTIVITY

The gridlock plaguing the streets of Metro Manila is costing the Philippine at least P2.4 billion a day, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) cited in a study it released in September 2014 in conjunction with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

A year later, NEDA Director General Arsenio Balisacan estimated the economic loss from traffic jams at P3 billion a day, saying the amount is equivalent to 0.8 percent of the gross domestic product.

Without intervention, the economic cost of the daily gridlock is likely to reach P6 billion a day by 2030, JICA noted.

"The impact of traffic is horrendous. People spend so much time in getting a ride, getting to their respective offices," Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo, director of the Center for Labor Justice of the UP School of Labor and industrial Relations said in a phone interview on Friday.

The supposed 8-hour a day an employee must spend for work, rest, and socialization have now been reduced because of the gridlock, Ofreneo said.

"It's really terrible. It says a lot about the inability of the government to manage a public service," the director noted.

"We need a strong transport planning system. The government should play a big part in this," he said.

Unquantifiable ordeal

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) mirror's the situation by saying that the length of time a worker spends on commuting has lessened productivity.

"The productivity of workers is affected, because it now takes an average of three hours for a worker in Metro Manila to travel to work and another three to four hours to travel back home," TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said in a separate interview.

"Productivity has been greatly lessened," he said.

"Since there are no dramatic changes implemented by the government to enhance the mass transport logistics and scenario in the past 14 years of the Arroyo and Aquino administrations, we can only imagine the unquantifiable ordeal workers are going through," Tanjusay noted.

As a result of the poor mass transport service, the TUCP has been calling on government and employers since 2012 to implement a flexible working time for state and private sector employees.

This includes a compressed, four-day work week, variable working hours, time banking, and work-from-home options.

Because of the gridlock, what is usually a 15-minute drive may last up to two hours, according to online financial platform MoneyMax.ph.

When a motorist is caught in a traffic jam and the engine is left running on idle, the car continues to consume fuel at the rate of 0.1 to 0.6 liter for every 10 minutes, MoneyMax noted, citing data from the Green Action Center.

"Fuel is one of the major costs of owning a car. If fuel costs P41 a liter, that’s at least P24.60 per hour (0.1 liters for every 10 minutes). If you multiply that by the extra 700 hours you spend in traffic in Metro Manila that translates to at least P17,220.00 wasted on fuel (and that’s if you’re only using 0.6 liters an hour)."

A long commute due to traffic makes workers less productive. Studies have shown that a strenuous commute increases the likeliness of irritability and fatigue which decreases a person’s performance on the job, MoneyMax added.

Saving P2.4B a day

A global survey by community-based traffic and navigation app Waze showed that Metro Manila has the worst of traffic jams.

The poll covered 50 million users in 32 countries and 167 metropolitan areas. The Philippines got a rating of 0.4 on a grading system of 10 (satisfying), to 1 miserable).

Citing data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group this week attributed the latest gridlock to the Christmas rush.

PNP-HPG Chief Supt. Arnold Gunancao said in a radio interview that the number of private vehicles plying EDSA has exceeded the 120,000 per hour capacity by three times.

Public buses traversing Metro Manila's circumferential freeway have also increased from 1,200 to at least 7,000 in both directions.

In trying to resolve the gridlock, JICA prepared a transport infrastructure roadmap for Mega Manila – the Mega Manila Dream Plan, which was approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in June.

"JICA hopes to work with the government in implementing some of these ideas to help improve mobility, and the quality of life of people in Metro Manila, and its surrounding areas," JICA Philippines Senior Representative Eigo Azukizawa earlier said.

"An efficient public transport system is a pro-poor investment as it provides reasonable ways of moving. As well, it enables people to commute from suburban areas where one can afford housing in a more spacious and safer area," he added.

The dream plan is designed to help the country save P2.4 billion per day, the estimated economic and financial losses to traffic congestion.

JICA last month committed a P93-billion loan to fund the country's North-South Commuter Railway Project.

Japan said it will lend a total of ¥241.991 billion or P93.457 billion to finance the construction of the first phase of the railway project which stretches 36.7 kilometers from Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban, Manila. – By JON VIKTOR D. CABUENAS, GMA News VS, GMA News

Labor groups push for ‘just transition’ in March for Climate Justice

Echoing the view of global trade unions that a shift to lower carbon economy is not just necessary but inevitable to address the worsening climate crisis, the coalition of labor groups Nagkaisa marched with multisectoral groups in the March for Climate Justice held in Quezon City this morning.

The group denounces corporate greed for spawning both a humanitarian and environmental crisis as manifested in the intensification of exploitative working conditions and the acceleration of climate change.

“When corporations rule under the framework of unlimited greed, workers endure the worst kind of exploitation. And when climate crisis worsened as tons of carbon are emitted into the atmosphere by oil and energy companies, mining and other hard industries, everyone suffers the brunt most particularly the poor people living in most vulnerable countries like the Philippines,” said Nagkaisa in a statement.

The group pointed out that while the country is less in carbon emission, her position of vulnerability can generate a powerful voice for demanding climate justice during negotiations.

“Unfortunately our government tailgated weakly behind the US position of simply having Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) process instead of playing hardball in pressing a return to binding cuts based on science and common but differential responsibility and which will limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” lamented Nagkaisa.

The group said that even with INDC process and actual submissions, the UNEP still anticipates a 4-6 degrees Celsius, rendering the COP ineffective.

Workers were also apprehensive of the fact that while governments are active in climate negotiations, the next one in Paris next week, most of them didn’t have a clear framework on how to fine-tune this transition to lower carbon economy in a manner acceptable to the people.

Nagkaisa is pushing the framework for a ‘just transition’ which promotes social justice and employment, requires active government intervention, and demands proportionate responsibility from all stakeholders, including business.

“The Philippines, for instance, has not explicitly declared a timeline to when fossil-fuelled power plants are finally phased out so that the transition is clearly plotted in favour of renewable energy and the creation of climate jobs,” the group said.

The coalition believes further that thousands of climate jobs can be created in the country in the shift to renewable energy, disaster response and building climate resilient communities that includes resettlement in climate-proof buildings and housing projects, as well as the greening of mass transport system.

“Funding is main requirement for this shift. In climate negotiations, the rich industrial nations must be made responsible in funding the transition of most vulnerable nations,” the group added.

Meanwhile, Nagkaisa said transition policies should not, in any way, transgress into the framework of decent work since regular job and social security help build the resiliency of many people against the wrath of Mother Nature.

After 4 years: TUCP elects new officials

CEBU, Philippines - After four years, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, the country’s biggest labor center, has finally conducted an election of its new set of officials.

This after the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals to have TUCP elect its new set of officials and end the four-year impasse in its leadership.

Atty. Raymond Democrito Mendoza of the powerhouse Associated Labor Unions was elected as the acting president of TUCP. Also elected as the acting general secretary of TUCP was labor lawyer Atty. Arnel Dolendo of the Philippine Trade and General Workers’ Organization.

Veteran public sector representative Esperanza Ocampo, president of the Philippine Government and Employees Association, was elected as acting treasurer.

“The TUCP General Council elected hold-over officers in ‘acting’ capacity in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling affirming the Court of Appeals decision in the TUCP leadership issue,” said Mendoza in a statement.

Mendoza said the CA laid down the sequence they are following in order to ensure that they may now have a unified and legally recognized leadership.

“We need this so that the Filipino workers’ voice can be heard through a unified labor umbrella,” he said.

Mendoza explained that they have to elect an acting president since the late Senator Ernesto Herrera held the position only in an acting capacity. The CA decision requires that as acting president, Senator Herrera would have to convene the General Council to elect an acting General Secretary and thereafter, said General Council will have to set a convention to elect the regular officers of the TUCP.

“With the death of Sen. Herrera, the second phase of electing an Acting General Secretary and setting a convention could not be carried out. We are simply complying with the order of the Courts,” said Dolendo in the same statement.

The TUCP General Council, serving as the highest governing body after complying with the court orders and the Constitution and By-Laws has sent notices to the 28 labor/federation affiliates of the TUCP being the organic members of the of the labor center.

The council has set December 14, TUCP’s founding anniversary, as a tentative schedule for the general convention to elect its regular officials. Ocampo said all 27 bonafide member-federations of the TUCP were invited during the election and will also be invited to the convention. By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NSA (FREEMAN)

Labor hits plan to hide homeless

THE country’s largest coalition of labor unions blasted the government Tuesday for trying to hide the homeless during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this month in Manila, prompting another denial from the Palace that the P4,000 given to each poor family was aimed at getting them out of the city during the event.

“The expanded or modified CCT [conditional cash trasfer] is part of a government program to promote poverty reduction and social development of the poorest of the poor in the country,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. The recent P4,000 dole, he added, was part of that program.

But Wilson Fortaleza, spokesman for Partido Manggagawa, one of 49 labor organizations belonging to Nagkaisa, said the government had hidden away the homeless before, during the papal visit in January, when it took them off the streets and booked them in a resort for the duration of the pope’s stay.

On Saturday, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said the department’s project for the street families during Apec was a way of “reaching out” to the poor.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, however, said Soliman was planning to hid them again in resorts.

Ridon had earlier asked the DSWD if it would repeat its “vanishing act” on the homeless.

In response to Ridon, DSWD budget sponsor Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora said that the department could not commit to stopping the outings, since the modified CCT was still ongoing.

She added that such activities had been going on, even after the pope’s visit.

“I take that to mean, then, that the DSWD will be repeating this deplorable vanishing act during the Apec summit?” Ridon retorted.

Zamora replied: “The DSWD will continue with the [program] even during the Apec summit, because it is the mandate of the DSWD.”

DSWD has asked Congress for a P62.6-billion budget for the conditional cash transfer program for 2016.

“Today, DSWD not only confirmed that the policy of hiding poor families has continued, but that they will repeat this act come November. This, ladies and gentlemen, is your shameless government that continues to resort to sweeping the escalating poverty... under the rug,” Ridon said.

Vice presidential candidate and Senator Francis Escudero hit the government for its double standard in dealing with the homeless.

He said there was something “severely wrong” when the government could move swiftly to give street dwellers in Manila financial assistance to relocate because they were “eyesores,” while leaving more than 200,000 families who survived Typhoon “Yolanda” two years ago languishing in temporary shelters.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo earlier blasted the government for its plan to conceal the homeless during the Apec summit by giving them money to be used for renting temporary homes from Nov. 15 to 20.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte defended the DSWD, saying this was part of the government’s program to give homeless families “dignified living quarters,” and not because of Apec.

United Nationalist Alliance spokesman Mon Ilagan branded as “shameful” the government’s clearing of Metro Manila streets of homeless people.

He said “window dressing” poverty remains as the biggest moral scandal of the government.

“Why do you have to hide them? To cover up the inefficiencies of this government?” he also asked.

“The administration is ashamed of the poor but what’s more embarrassing is that after five years the numbers on poverty and hunger have worsened,” he added.

He said the “band-aid” solutions implemented by the administration have failed to address poverty. by Sandy Araneta With Macon Ramos Araneta / The Standard

20 million contractuals in govt, private sectors

The country’s biggest coalition of labor groups on Tuesday said labor contractualization brought up by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the other day was “extremely condemnable,” citing 20 million who have fallen victim to the malpractice.

The coalition Nagkaisa’s Sonny Matula, a lawyer, said the “5-5-5” labor contract was already declared illegal by the Supreme Court in the case of Purefoods vs National Labor Relations Commission in 1997.

“[But it] is still rampant today and it seems that the [Aquino] administration is helpless to curb it,” Matula added.

According to the Nagkaisa, an association of 49 progressive labor unions and federations headed by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), there are about 20 million contractual workers in the government and private sectors as of September of this year out of over 41 million salaried workers/employees in the country.

On Monday, Marcos described contractualization as “oppressive,” saying there is one contractual worker for every three rank-and-file employees among the country’s entire workforce who is underpaid and barred from receiving additional financial benefits on top of his basic pay.

Matula, president of Federation of Free Workers, said the “5-5-5”

practice is a blatant disregard of employment security as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Under the practice, a worker is replaced by another also under a five-month contract.

A six month’s employment makes it mandatory for an employer to make an employee a regular one.

According to Leody de Guzman, president of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, the concept of contractualization has prevented workers from joining labor unions and pushing collective bargaining agreements.

Mark Tanjusay, spokesman for the TUCP-Nagkaisa, said contractualization also prevents workers from benefiting from the country’s “growing economy.”

Tanjusay added that they have been urging Congress to pass the proposed Security of Tenure Act to assure that 90 percent of workers in every business establishment in the country are employed as regulars, while only 10 percent are contractuals. - by NELSON S. BADILLA, REPORTER The Manila Times

Labor group urges PBA cagers to restore players' union

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A labor group urged the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) cagers to revive a players' union amid the Mahindra Enforcers-Alex Nuyles contract row.

"We encourage them to form players' union because they are professional, first class athletes and not commodities," Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said in a statement.

"Basketball players are just like any other ordinary blue collared worker who is vulnerable to abuse."

Such union will, in particular, protect the players from abuse of contract, Tanjusay added.

"But if they organize themselves into unions, they can get the best terms of the deal of their contracts than those who are not unionized," said Tanjusay, who is also an advocacy officer of the Associated Labor Unions.

This came on the heels of former Mahindra coach Glen Capacio expressing support to guard Alex Nuyles, whose contract with the Enforcers was invalidated by the team management.

It was, in fact, Capacio who first called for the restoration of the PBA players' union, which was formed by PBA four-time MVPs Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio, Robert Jaworksi, among others during the 1990s, to "protect the interest of Nuyles and other PBA players who have similar predicament."

Unfortunately, players failed to keep the group active.

Tanjusay added that formation of unions are being "encouraged by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and promoted by the International Labour Organization (ILO)." - By CNN Philippines Staff

1 M agriculture sector workers may lose jobs due to El Niño

Photo taken last May shows a girl examining the cracked soil caused by the dry spell in Barangay Madayegdeg, San Fernandoe City, La Union. VIC ALHAMBRA

MANILA, Philippines – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) has called on the national government to draw up contingency plans for about 800,000 to one million agriculture sector workers who stand to lose their jobs within the next six months of an intensified El Niño dry spell.

The largest labor group in the country said the workers should be included in the livelihood and assistance programs of the government and in the mitigation plans being drawn by various national and local government offices.

“We urge the government to include in their mitigation plans the agriculture sector workers who may be rendered jobless due to the intense weather phenomenon,” said Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions (ALU). “These type of workers suffer a double whammy because not only do they lose their livelihood and income, they also suffer as consumers.”

Seno said the group supports the call of Sen. Francis Escudero, who last Friday urged the national government to create an inter-agency task force that will draw a roadmap to better cope with El Niño.

The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) records showed that as of April, there are 11.4 million workers in the agriculture sector, down by 400,000 from 2014’s 11.8 million. These workers include those engaged in hunting, forestry and fishing.

Alan Tanjusay, TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesman, projected a rapid employment decline in the agriculture sector starting at the onset of El Niño as he also cited a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) record that showed a 0.37 percent contraction in employments relating to the agriculture sector during the second quarter of this year.

The decline is largely attributed to the intense heat, which affected the crops and fisheries sub-sectors.

“Our agriculture workers, particularly in the rural areas, are underpaid. That is why the sector always had the highest underemployment incidence. We do not see the agricultural workers in the government’s El Niño rescue plan,” Tanjusay said.

The TUCP-Nagkaisa also quoted data that showed a steady decline in the number of workers in the agricultural sector starting from 12.2 million in 2011, 12 million in 2012, 11.83 million in 2013 and 11.8 million last year.

In July this year, the group said unemployment in the sector rose to a total of 755,000 workers.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) secretary-general and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan blamed the onset of El Niño as causing the rise of unemployment in the sector.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said 58 percent of the country is experiencing the effects of El Niño, and that this could increase to 85 percent in February 2016.

The provinces heavily affected by the phenomenon include Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Bohol, Siquijor, Camiguin and Misamis Oriental. – By Michael Punongbayan (The Philippine Star) With Mayen Jaymalin

El Niño to leave 1M agri workers jobless

AT least one million workers in the agricultural sector stand to lose their jobs in the coming months as an intense El Niño threatens to lay waste large tracts of agricultural lands in several provinces, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) warned on Sunday.

The TUCP, the country’s biggest labor group, urged the government to immediately institute mitigation plans, including provision of livelihood assistance to farmers and other agricultural workers who will be adversely affected by El Nino, a prolonged dry spell.

“We urge the government, from the national down to the local government units, to include in its mitigation plans those workers in the agriculture sector who may be rendered jobless due to the intense weather phenomenon. These types of workers suffer double whammy because not only will they lose their livelihood and income, they also suffer as consumers,” the TUCP said.

Records from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) showed that as of April this year, there were 11.4 million workers in the agricultural sector, down by 400,000 from 11.8 million in 2014.

Aside from farming and harvesting, the sector also includes hunting, forestry and fishing.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the agricultural sector contracted by 0.37 percent in the second quarter of the year because of the intense heat that destroyed crops,

“Our agriculture workers particularly in the rural areas are underwaged, that is why the sector always had the highest underemployment incidence. Besides that, we do not see agricultural workers in the El Nino rescue plan of the government,” TUCP spokesman Allan Tanjusay said.

From 11.9 million in 2010, workers in the agricultural sector rose to 12.2 million in 2011–the highest rise in a five-year period–and dwindled to 12 million in 2012 and further down to 11.83 million in 2013.

In July this year, unemployment in the sector rose to a total of 755,000 workers.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) secretary-general and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan blamed the onset of the El Nino phenomenon for causing an uptick in unemployment in the sector.

Earlier, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle issued a circular calling on all clergy, superiors of religious communities and heads of secular institutes in the archdiocese of Manila to pray the Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluvian or Oraio Imperata for the Impending Drought to address the impending long dry spell that threatens to affect the whole country until next year as a result of the El Nino phenomenon.

“This impending situation brings us to the brink of helplessness, but not hopelessness, as we turn to God our Father, to turn His mercy on us and shorten the life of El Nino and bring down the rain to avert the crisis,” Tagle said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said 58 percent of the country are experiencing effects of El Nino and could increase to 85 percent in February 2016.

Provinces heavily affected by the phenomenon are Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Bohol, Siquijor, Camiguin and Misamis Oriental.

The prolonged drought would seriously affect about 46 provinces, causing damage to agriculture and critical water supply for human consumption.

Last July, around 755,000 workers in the agricultural sector were reported jobless because of the El Nino phenomenon, according to data provided by the BAS and the PSA.

So, if El Nino will continue in the next six months, the 1 million workers in the agricultural sector losing their jobs is evidently bad news for the economy.

Balisacan earlier admitted that the dry spell will surely send workers in the agricultural sector jobless because of the bad weather’s direct attack on the land.

To help the workers cope with economic difficulties for the same period, TUCP’s Tanjusay urged the Aquino administration to include “livelihood and assistance [programs] for the [affected workers] in mitigation plans being drawn up by various national government agencies and local government units [LGUs].”

BAS and PSA records showed that the country has a total of 11.4 million agricultural workers as of April this year.

The agricultural workers are described as one of the poorest sectors of the country since their income always depends on the status of agriculture.

If there is dry spell caused by El Nino, they face severe difficulty in providing for their daily needs.

Thus, Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions, said his group, a member of TUCP, “urges government [officials] from the national [level] down to the LGUs to [also] include in their mitigation plans [the] workers in the agricultural sector who [would] be … jobless due to the intense weather phenomenon. These … workers [are expected to] suffer [triple] whammy because … they lose their livelihood, income [and] also suffer as consumers.” - The Manila Times

Workers' group asks: Where is govt plan for 800,000 who will lose jobs due to El Nino?

FILE PHOTO BY BERNARD TESTA

MANILA - At least 800,000 to 1 million workers in the agriculture sector may lose their jobs within the next six months of an intensified El Nino dry spell, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) said in a news release Sunday.

The scenario prompted the TUCP-Nagkaisa to call for the inclusion of livelihood assistance for them in mitigation plans being drawn up by various national government agencies and local government units.

“We urge government, from the national down to the local government units, to include in their mitigation plan those workers in the agriculture sector who may be rendered jobless due to intense weather phenomenon. They suffer double whammy because not only that they lose their livelihood and income, they also suffer as consumer,” said Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions (ALU).

Seno said the group supports the call of Senator Chiz Escudero for government to create an inter-agency task force that will draw a roadmap in coping with El Nino.

Records from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) showed as of April this year, there are 11.4 million workers working in the agriculture sector, down by 400,000 from 11.8 million by the end 2014. Aside from farming and harvesting, the sector also includes hunting, forestry, and fishing.

TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesman Alan Tanjusay attributed the rapid unemployment during the period to the beginning of El Nino event citing data from BAS saying the agriculture industry contracted by 0.37 percent in the second quarter of the year due to intense heat which affected crops and fisheries subsectors, records from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

“Our agriculture workers particularly in the rural areas are underwaged that is why the sector always had the highest underemployment incidence. Besides, we do not see agricultural workers in the El Nino rescue plan of government,” Tanjusay said.

From 11.9 million in 2010, workers in the agriculture rose to 12.2 million in 2011 -- the highest in five-year period -- and dwindled to 12 million in 2012 and further down to 11.83 million in 2013.

In July this year, unemployment in the sector rose to a total of 755,000 workers. National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) secretary-general and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan blamed the onset of El Nino phenomenon caused the uptick in unemployment in the sector.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Administration said 58 percent of the country is experiencing effects of El Nino and could increase to 85 percent in February 2016. Provinces heavily affected by the phenomenon are Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Bohol, Siquijo, Camiguin, and Misamis Oriental. - InterAksyon.com means BUSINESS

SSS urged to step up campaign against erring capitalists

SIX biggest labor organizations and alliances on Friday have strongly prodded the leadership of the Social Security System (SSS) to step up its campaign against capitalists who deliberately refuse to remit their monthly financial obligation collected from their employees.

Leody de Guzman, president of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), said the leaders and managers of the SSS must oblige all the employers to ensure that they will remit their employees’ monthly obligation and the corresponding employers’ share to the SSS.

Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of the alliance of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa), added that the SSS should conduct a regular inspection or reminder to all private firms covered to remit to the government’s social security agency the monthly payment of the employees and the corresponding employers’ share.

On September 21, The Manila Times reported that the SSS was able to collect about P1.6 billion from employers who refused to remit to the SSS the employers’ and employees’ monthly financial obligation for the past years.

The Times also reported that the SSS managed to send to jail at least 24 capitalists out of the 7,000 who intentionally violated the SSS Law.

For these accomplishments, Partido Manggagawa (PM) spokesman Wilson Fortaleza said the SSS leadership should step up its efforts so that more capitalists will be incarcerated for violating the agency’s law.

Fortaleza added that the 24 jailed capitalists were not enough since PM strongly believes that there are many businessmen still refuse to give the SSS the monthly payment of the employees together with the employers share.

Although the law stipulates that company employees should lodge a complaint against erring employers before the SSS, Tanjusay, who is also chairman of the Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP), said there is still a huge number of employers who deliberately ignore remitting to SSS the money they collect from their employees.

He also pointed out that the SSS would not act unless an employee will file a complaint against his or her employer who refused to remit the money they chopped from their employees.

Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), said the action against any erring employer should not only be done by the SSS but by the employees as well in order to win against the SSS Law violators.

Matula stressed that the employees’ decision against their employer is an important act to help SSS do its obligation.

But Matula, who is also a lawyer, should be reminded that the mindset of Filipino workers is filled with fear. They are afraid to file a complaint against their employers who violated even a series of non-remittance to the SSS amounting to two years.

A good example was a call center employee who failed to get her financial incentive from the SSS when she gave birth to her third child two months ago, because her employer did not remit the money they collected.

The employee was then advised to lodge a complaint so that legal actions could be done against the SSS Law violator, but she later on refused out of fear that she might be fired from the company. - by NELSON S. BADILLA, REPORTER / The Manila Times

Six labor groups urge govt to approve workers’ tax cuts

THE six biggest labor groups and alliances in the Philippines on Friday expressed their unity in strongly supporting the reduction of workers’ withholding taxes.

Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of one of the alliances, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa), said the two labor alliances together with the newly-formed Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP) have not withdrawn their strong support to the efforts of three senators and two congressmen who aim to lower the percentage of the taxable income of salaried workers since it will surely help raise the purchasing power of every employee.

Tanjusay, who is also the chairman of LPP, said that TUCP, Nagkaisa, and LPP are thinking of different forms of struggle to convince President Aquino 3rd on the correctness and positive effect on the economy should the workers’ tax cuts be approved.

At present, the withholding taxes on workers’ income range from 10 to 30 percent annually depending on the yearly salary.

Minimum wage earners are exempted from tax cuts.

Proposed laws being tackled in both chambers of the Congress and the Senate have two intentions: widen the coverage of the low withholding taxes on the one hand, and increase corporate taxes on the other hand.

Despite the fact that this proposal could add up to his good legacy, Mr. Aquino vehemently opposed the idea of the pro-administration lawmakers, including his first cousin, Sen. Benigno Paolo “Bam” Aquino 4th, due to the possible downgrading of the Philippines’ credit capacity ranking.

Even Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares was more concerned on the country’s possible downgraded credit rating, rather than the increase of the workers’ purchasing power.

Wilson Fortaleza, spokesman of Partido Manggagawa (PM), stressed the truth of the matter that workers with a living wage less than P1,500 per day must be exempted from paying a withholding tax.

He said tax exemptions on the biggest number of workers, both in the private and government sectors, have been a long-time agenda of PM.

Fortaleza added that the utmost concern of PM is to increase the living wage of the Filipino working class, saying it is an important issue that his group will bring up in the House of Representatives not only today but also in the future.

Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), pointed out that reduced withholding taxes for the salaried workers not only brings a good effect on the workers but more so in the country’s economy.

Matula, who is also a lawyer, said the tax cuts on the annual income of the salaried workers are definitely beneficial to the economy because more workers could buy more products.

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) President Leody de Guzman strongly agreed with his fellow labor leaders, saying the “tax exemption would result in the much-needed increase in take-home pay for wage and salaried workers who earn more than the atrociously-low minimum wage and are not covered by the orders of the regional wage boards since their creation in 1989.”

He said he could not understand why Mr. Aquino rejected the idea of tax reduction when in fact it “would not cause a big loss in the tax base for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), since the increase in take-home pay will spur consumption and increase the collections for the value-added tax.”

De Guzman could not hide his disgust with the Aquino administration because it could “afford to give billions in tax breaks and incentives to foreign multinational monopolies … [but] it has the gall to complain of the P30 billion that would be reduced from the nation’s coffers due to the [tax reduction on withholding taxes].” - by NELSON S. BADILLA, REPORTER / The Manila Times

Cebu: Labor groups express dismay at P13 increase

THE P13 adjustment in the minimum wage approved by the regional wage board for minimum wage earners in Metro Cebu is not enough, according to labor groups.

“We are dismayed by the increase. It is too far from our demand,” said Dennis Derige, spokesperson for Partido ng Manggawa (PM) in Cebu.

He said that the increase is not enough to provide for a worker’s daily subsistence.
Art Barrit of the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) expressed a similar sentiment, saying ALU-TUCP anticipated a higher wage hike.

Proposal

“We did not expect that amount. We were expecting more than P50," Barrit told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview yesterday.

He laments that despite the figures they had shown during the deliberation, the wage board has not bothered to consider their proposal.

Last July, the group filed a petition before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7 for a P92 increase in the daily minimum wage.

Barrit said that the RTWPB “always” ruled in favor of the management sector.
Barrit said they are prepared to file a motion for reconsideration before the National Wages and Productivity Council (NWPC) in Manila.

Cities

Labor groups also pointed out that the P13 increase only applies to the cities of Carcar, Danao, Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and the town of Cordova.

Derige said that PM is asking Congress to abolish the RTWPB and replace it with the National Living Wage Commission.

Joe Tomungha, labor sector representative in the RTWPB, said that he thought of resigning from the post last year but decided not to because the move would impair the sector’s representation in the wage board.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 7 Exequiel Sarcauga said in an interview that he respects the opinion of the labor groups.

Sarcauga said that a regionalized wage classification was set in place because of regional disparity in standard of living and economic profile.

He said that the wage adjustment only covered Metro Cebu, the center of economic activity in Cebu.

He said that to address the issue, the rest of Cebu should be opened to investments.

He said that if the RTWPB is abolished, the DOLE will comply with the order. - By EARL JON M. RALLOSPublished in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 12, 2015.

Five labor groups: Pass 2,000 pension hike now

FIVE of the biggest labor organizations in the Philippines on Thursday strongly urged the Senate to immediately pass the proposed law requiring the Social Security System (SSS) to increase the monthly pension of about 1.9 million retired workers by P2,000.

The call of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP), Nagkaisa, Partido Manggagawa (PM), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), and Labor Party of the Philippines (LLP) was issued for the Senate to hasten the passage of the House Bill No. 5842 that was adopted and sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Villar on August 26.

Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of TUCP—Nagkaisa, said the approval must be immediate since the 1.9 million SSS pensioners badly needed the money to augment their budget for their monthly expenses on medicines, electricity, water, and so on.

Renato Magtubo, former congressman and now chairman of PM, said his group is strongly calling the attention of the senators to prioritize the proposed P2,000 increase on the SSS monthly pension since “there is no dramatic increase on the amount of pension that SSS pensioners have been receiving for a long period of time.”

Magtubo stressed that Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares’ proposal was “timely [despite] the amount was small [because it] will surely help retirees/pensioners in their needs most specially their medical needs.”

Sonny Matula, a lawyer who chairs FFW, likewise pointed out that the SSS pensioners “badly needed” the P2,000 hike.

Tanjusay noted that even Nagkaisa (coalition of 90 percent of labor unions in the country) and LLP are in full support of the proposed SSS pension increase because it would benefit around 1.9 million retired workers from private firms.

On August 26, the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises chaired by Sen. Villar cited HB 5842 in her sponsorship speech.

In the same day, Villar made the sponsorship on the Report No. 213 of the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises.

As she made the sponsorship, Villar said, “Kasi sa tinatanggap na monthly pension ng ating mga retiradong manggagawa na minimum of between P1,200 and P2,400, mabibilang sila sa mga Pilipinong living below the poverty line. In fact, kahit na dagdagan pa ang kanilang monthly pension ng P2,000 ayon sa ating rekomendasyon, hindi pa rin nila malalampasan ang poverty threshold. As such, they will still be labeled as poor… Ibig sabihin, matapos magtrabaho ang mga pribadong manggagawa ng 20 taon, kapag sila ay retirado na, marami sa kanila, na aasa na lang sa monthly pension nila, ay mamumuhay below the poverty line. Medyo nakakalungkot naman ang hahantungan ng mga empleyado sa ating bansa [The minimum monthly pension received by retired employees is between P1,200 and P2,400, and they would be classified as Filipinos living below the poverty line. In fact, even if we add P2,000 on their monthly pension, based on our recommendation, they still would be in the lines of poverty threshold. As such, they will still be labeled as poor… This means that after working for 20 years, when they retire, most of them would just depend on their monthly pension and they would be living below the poverty line. It’s saddening that this is the fate of retired workers in our country.”

After August 26, Villar’s committee has yet to make a follow-up action on the proposed law.

The proposed law specifically intends to amend Section 12 of Republic Act No. 1161, which states that workers who have 10 years of SSS monthly contribution will receive P1,200 monthly pension and those who have 20 years of SSS monthly contribution will get P2,400 monthly pension.

Unfortunately, reports have been floating to the media that the government agency could not afford to finance the P49 billion budget for the increase from year 2016 to 2042.

This led Rep. Colmenares to blow his top last week saying “the SSS [must] stop scaring the Senate from the P2,000 pension increase by claiming that Social Security System (SSS) has no funds for the increase.”

“SSS should stop trying to delude the people and the Senate that it has no funds for the P2,000 pension increase because this is not true. The SSS Board is tryng to sabotage the passage of the P2,000 pension increase, even if it has actually admitted several times that it has the funds for the pension increase. The increase will only shorten its fund life to 2029 instead of the current 2042,” Colmenares added. - by NELSON S. BADILLA REPORTER / The Manila Times

Nat'l labor party seeks accreditation, bets woo it for support

The Labor Party of the Philippines plans to endorse and field national and local candidates for the 2016 polls once it is accredited

WORKER. A Filipino fish port worker carries tuna before weighing it at the Fish Port in General Santos City, southern Philippines, on June 17, 2015. Photo by Ritchie B Tongo/EPA

MANILA, Philippines – A labor-based national political party has sought accreditation from the election commission in what the group calls a historic first.

The Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP) on Tuesday, September 1, said it plans to endorse and field national and local candidates for the 2016 polls once it is accredited.

The LPP underwent an accreditation hearing before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last August 25, Rappler learned.

Associated Labor Unions (ALU) Vice President Gerard Seno told Rappler the party will "support" a presidential candidate. LPP Chairman Alan Tanjusay said the presidential bet will be selected "after they make their candidacy official in October.”

LPP has been courted as early as February by “decent groups and highly respected individuals” for the support of certain national candidates, Tanjusay told Rappler.

The party was established by ALU in December 2014 as hopefully the country’s first union-based national political party.

Tanjusay said that LPP will partner with other grassroots, marginalized, business, and community-based groups to beef up the present 120,000 regular union members of ALU.

He said the party envisions “a dynamic economy, a just society, an open democracy and a healthy environment.”

LPP was formed out of “discontent, frustration, because no one is giving even small attention” to the issues of workers “who play a vital and strategic role in the country’s national daily affairs,” Tanjusay added.

ALU is a pioneering federation of labor unions registered with the labor department in April 1954.

LABOR PARTY. Party Chairman Alan Tanjusay shows the petition for national party accreditation filed before the Comelec. Photos from ALU

What the labor sector wants

Unionists believe the country’s next leader must succeed where they believe past and present presidents have failed – ensuring Filipino laborers have a living wage enough to move out of poverty.

“Naghahanap pa kami ng pangulo na maninindigan at isusulong ang disenteng pamumuhay ng manggagawa at kanyang pamilya lalo sa sitwasyon ngayon na kung saan hindi nakikinabang ang nakararami sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya,” trade unionist Renato Magtubo told Rappler.

(We are still looking for a president who will stand and push for decent living of workers and their families especially today when many do not benefit from economic progress.)

But according to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, only 5 of the 98 minimum wage rates in the country remain below the poverty threshold – a feat, she said, that was achieved under President Benigno Aquino III from 2010 to June 2015.

Baldoz also said more workers received higher salaries under Aquino’s administration given the labor department’s two-tier wage system.

Labor leader Josua Mata described a pro-labor president as one who is “not afraid to go against the interests of the elites, pursue much-needed hard reforms like asset reforms and security of tenure for workers to address the scandalous inequality that we have.”

Contractual labor – seen to deprive workers of income stability and job security – comes at the forefront of issues the labor sector wants political leaders to prioritize. (READ: SONA 2015: The state of Philippine labor under Aquino)

Julius Cainglet of the Federation of Free Workers said the labor sector needs a leader who "will ensure that growth redounds" to "the working poor and those who work under precarious conditions such as contractualization, unsafe work places and receiving salaries below the minimum wage."

Cainglet said the next president must treat trade unions "as regular social dialogue partners" and "involve them in labor and economic policies."

The call comes amid waning interest in unionism and decreasing labor union density in the Philippines. (READ: Factory work and unionism). – Rappler.com Buena Bernal @buenabernal

New political party seeks Comelec accreditation

MANILA, Philippines - A newly formed national political party is now seeking accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Officials of the Labor Party of the Philippines (LPP), a union-based political party formed by Associated Labor Unions (ALU), sat down with Comelec officials on August 25 regarding its accreditation.

"Unionized members from different industries who are the core members of the party intend to field and endorse national and local candidates including sectoral representatives in the forthcoming presidential elections on May 2016 who will espouse and promote our party platforms and programs," Alan Tanjusay, policy advocacy officer of the ALU and chairman of the LPP, said.

Established on December 2014, Tanjusay said the LPP aims to bring together members and supporters who share its values and principles to develop policies and to make communities stronger through collective action and support on issues relating to labor rights and labor standards.

Once LPP gets the accreditation, Tanjusay said party will expand its membership with various sectors of society including financial institutions, chambers of commerce, industry groups, peasant, women, fisherfolk, urban poor, indigenous peoples and the handicapped.

Registered as a labor federation at the Department of Labor and Employment in April 1954, the ALU is a pioneer aggrupation of unions in the country.

ALU manages various collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and render regular legal, dental and social service to its 120,000 land-based and sea-based regular members.

The LPP headquarters and regional offices are located at all ALU buildings and offices in nine regions. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)

Traffic problems prompt labor group to seek 30-minute tardiness grace period

A LABOR group has asked for a 30-minute grace period for workers coming in late every day, in response to worsening traffic in Metro Manila, but an employers’ group warned that it could set a bad precedent among employees.

In a statement, the Partido Manggagawa (PM) appealed for consideration from business executives on worker tardiness.

“Since employers recognize that there is as yet no existing solution to this pressing issue, we demand that capitalists not punish workers who are late due to a problem that they have no control over,” PM National Chairperson Renato B. Magtubo said in a statement on Friday.

“Until traffic congestion is substantially reduced, such remedial steps must remain in place to protect workers.”

In particular, the group is asking employers for the following:

- a 30-minute grace period before being declared late for work;

- no warnings and salary cuts if late due to traffic;

- and a shuttle bus service for companies with at least 200 employees.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)-Nagkaisa faction also backed the grace period proposal.

“We ask government and employers to adjust tardiness and lateness rule on their employees and government workers to 30 more minutes maximum for the time being while there are no measures yet to address worsening traffic condition,” TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan A. Tanjusay said via text.

While acknowledging the grueling traffic situation in the capital, an official of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) said it could set the wrong example for workers to follow.

“The proposal for mandatory grace period would be a disincentive to those who are punctual and efficient in their work and could promote a culture of habitual tardiness,” ECOP President Edgardo G. Lacson said in a text message.

Another ECOP official said a good alternative would be allowing flexible schedules for employees while more permanent solutions to road congestion are laid out.

“I am not too clear on the mechanics of the 30-minute grace period. But in actual practice, some offices have adopted varying schemes of the so-called flexi-time,” ECOP director-general Vicente Leogardo Jr. said separately.

“Also, employers may adopt a compressed work week, which is considered valid as long as the union or workers agree to it.”

Sought for comment, the Labor department said such arrangements can be better addressed through talks between employees and management instead of prescribing government rules.

“The issue can be the subject of consultation at the company level between workers and/or unions considering the circumstances and needs of both instead of mandating it by law,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said in a text message.

“There are companies already under flexi-time arrangements and also those in IT sector, where they can produce their outputs without reporting physically for work.”

President Benigno S.C. Aquino III on Thursday said he plans to implement an odd-even scheme to further cut the volume of vehicles plying the local roads, but this was thumbed down by business leaders and transportation experts as a viable solution.

At present, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is implementing a car plate coding scheme during weekdays, which restricts some motorists from taking their cars out during rush hour once a week.

Asked what the workers’ recourse could be for the long commutes daily, Mr. Lacson said all must “sleep less at night and leave their residence before the break of dawn and pray for light traffic.”

“Levity aside, authorities must deploy traffic enforcers who are fully trained, coordinated, firm and fair, and dedicated to their duties, who will not abandon their posts at the first drop of rain or when lunch break comes.”

“Motorists and pedestrians must be disciplined to follow traffic rules by way of strict apprehension of violators. A culture of compliance to regulations will be inculturated if rules are enforced fairly, consistently, and sustainably.”

Mr. Leogardo, meanwhile, said there is still a long way to go to address the worsening Manila traffic, with gradual decongestion of the capital and putting up a “highly efficient” mass transport system.

TUCP urges gov't to revive safety patrol in worksites

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) urged the government to revive the tripartite safety patrol and conduct surprise inspections in all construction work sites particularly government-funded projects nationwide.

During the Construction Industry Tripartite Council (CITC) meeting on Tuesday, TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said it is alarming that all of the 112 workplaces inspected by the safety patrol in 2012 in Metro Manila, Regions, 3, 4-A, 7 and 11 have no trained safety officers.

He said that all sites inspected also have no functioning health and safety committees, no records of accidents and illnesses, no health personnel as well as health services, and no provision for sufficient and appropriate personal protective equipment.

The CITC is composed of labor groups, workers’ association, contractors and steered by the government. It tackles issues and concerns involving construction industry and recommends industry policies to the government and to the legislature.

Composed of employers’ group, labor unions and government’s occupational safety and health officers, the safety patrol was created by the department order of the Department of Labor and Employment in 2012, invoking the visitorial and enforcement prerogatives of the Secretary of Labor as mandated by the Labor Code of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions, said the revival of safety patrol will minimize workplace accidents.

"It is because whenever there are mishaps in the workplace, it’s the construction workers who are the ultimate loser--- they end up dead or disabled physically. But accidents can be minimized if government enforce the law and employers comply with the standards on a regular basis," Seno said.

He said the breakdown of labor standards at the construction workplace was highlighted by a blatant violation by the project owners and the project contractors over the collapse of wall of a warehouse building in Barangay Ilang-ilang in Guiguinto, Bulacan on January 19.

The accident left 12 construction workers dead, including a wife and a child, and injured three others.

Two weeks later the Bulacan building mishap, two workers were killed and eleven others were injured when the installed formworks above them collapsed while a ramp is being built in a building at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. - By Denis Carcamo (philstar.com)

Labor group also hits Abaya for ‘arrogance’

THE country’s largest labor organization tore into Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya Wednesday for being arrogant and insensitive to the plight of commuters after he remarked Monday that heavy traffic brought about by the extension of the city train system would not prove fatal.

“It is very unfortunate for the Filipino people to have Secretary Abaya as a public servant,” said a spokesman for the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa, Allan Tanjusay. “Not only has he been insensitive to the plight of the commuter, he has been inefficient and arrogant.”

Last year, the TUCP also criticized Abaya for remarking that riding the MRT was “a personal decision,” after his department came under fire over safety concerns when a commuter train shot off its tracks and landed on a major thoroughfare, injuring 40 people.

“Riding MRT is a personal decision. I won’t go out of my way to convince the people to ride. We all make our own decisions. It’s a free country,” Abaya said at the time.

On Tuesday, the leftist Bagong Alyasang Makabayan said Abaya follows the footsteps of President Benigno Aquino III when it comes to being insensitive to the plight of the people.

“For Abaya, the traffic situation is not fatal. Neither are the long lines and decrepit trains of the MRT and LRT. Everything is well as far as they’re concerned,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr.

Hundreds of Facebook and Twitter users expressed their disgust at Abaya, saying it would be better for him to resign.

Abaya’s latest statement came days after the Metro Manila Development Authority warned that the traffic buildup would worsen when the expansion of the LRT starts next month. - By Joel E. Zurbano / Manila Standard Today

Groups back QC councilor move to ‘avert’ Canadian waste dumping at Payatas

Environmental groups on Monday said it supports the call of a member of the Quezon City Council to disallow the use of the Payatas Sanitary Landfill for wastes coming from other countries.

Councilor Dorothy Delarmente of First District of Quezon City recently filed a resolution which expressed strong disapproval against any plan to dispose of or dump foreign wastes at the Quezon City Landfill.

At least 24 environmental groups and several labor groups said the proposed resolution will serve as a deterrent against any move to dump Canadian wastes at the city’s controlled landfill.

The Payatas Sanitary Landfill used to be an open dumpsite before the Quezon City government started rehabilitation in 2001 following the death of 218 people, mostly residents who live at shanties around the foot of the mountain of garbage that collapsed only July 1, 2000 after days of unusually excessive rainfall.

Backing the City Council’s approval of the resolution were Quezon City-based groups, such as Ang NARS; Arugaan; Associated Labor Unions-TUCP; Bangon Kalikasan Movement; Ban Toxics; Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-NCR; Citizens’ Organizations Concerned with Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability; EcoWaste Coalition; Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives; Green Convergence; Greenpeace; Health Care Without Harm; Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment; Mother Earth Foundation; Oceana Philippines; Piglas Kababaihan; Public Services Labor Independent Confederation; Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa; WomanHealth Philippines; and Zero Waste Philippines. - by Jonathan L. Mayuga / Business Mirror

Groups back QC councilor move to ‘avert’ Canadian waste dumping at Payatas

Environmental groups on Monday said it supports the call of a member of the Quezon City Council to disallow the use of the Payatas Sanitary Landfill for wastes coming from other countries.

Councilor Dorothy Delarmente of First District of Quezon City recently filed a resolution which expressed strong disapproval against any plan to dispose of or dump foreign wastes at the Quezon City Landfill.

At least 24 environmental groups and several labor groups said the proposed resolution will serve as a deterrent against any move to dump Canadian wastes at the city’s controlled landfill.

The Payatas Sanitary Landfill used to be an open dumpsite before the Quezon City government started rehabilitation in 2001 following the death of 218 people, mostly residents who live at shanties around the foot of the mountain of garbage that collapsed only July 1, 2000 after days of unusually excessive rainfall.

Backing the City Council’s approval of the resolution were Quezon City-based groups, such as Ang NARS; Arugaan; Associated Labor Unions-TUCP; Bangon Kalikasan Movement; Ban Toxics; Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-NCR; Citizens’ Organizations Concerned with Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability; EcoWaste Coalition; Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives; Green Convergence; Greenpeace; Health Care Without Harm; Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment; Mother Earth Foundation; Oceana Philippines; Piglas Kababaihan; Public Services Labor Independent Confederation; Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa; WomanHealth Philippines; and Zero Waste Philippines. - by Jonathan L. Mayuga / Business Mirror

Dole asks more sectors to file position papers until Aug. 26

FOLLOWING the wage petitions filed by some labor groups, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) wants the public and the concerned sectors to understand that they have yet to deliberate on the matter.

With this, Dole 7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga asked more sectors to file position papers until Aug. 26.
“The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) cannot yet make any decision regarding the two petitions filed asking for across-the-board daily minimum wage increase in Region 7 right after the conduct of the regional public hearing,” said Sarcauga, who also chairs the RTWPB, in a press statement.

Hearing

The hearing last Thursday, Sarcauga said, aimed to guarantee that all ideas, rejoinders, issues and concerns of different sectors could be considered.

It was attended by various chapters of chamber and commerce industry as well as representatives from the wholesalers association, consumer groups, representatives from the academe, among others.
“It targets to ensure broad participation of stakeholders and other parties affected by the wage adjustment. It also helps generate data on the views or position of stakeholders on petitions for such move,” Sarcauga further explained.

Hike

He said the RTWPB will schedule a deliberation of the two wage hike petitions presented and submitted to their office.

Since last month, labor groups had been pursuing for the labor agency to grant a wage increase.

Metudio Belarmino Jr. of Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) filed for a minimum wage adjustment of P145 or a P432 daily minimum wage.

Increase

On the other hand, Arturo Barit of Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) filed for an increase of P92 or a P485 daily minimum wage in Central Visayas.
“I appreciate the arguments of the labor and management sectors. Both are equally correct and sensible. Our problem and concern now is how to create and establish balance when faced with two correct issues in order to come up with a reasonable, practical and viable solution,” Sarcauga said.

Kasambahay

Sarcauga also encouraged the sectors to include in their position papers the concerns of the kasambahay or domestic helpers.
Architect Benjamin Avila of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Robert Go of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and lawyer Manolette Dinsay of the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry said during the public hearing last Thursday that any wage increase is untimely and will increase employment rate and inflation rate. - By
EARL JON M. RALLOS / SunStar

Traders buck wage increase

Chambers of commerce in Central Visayas yesterday warned that some businesses might close shop, contributing to a high unemployment rate, if the daily minimum wage in the region is increased.

“The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry is not against the wage increase because we recognize that human capital is one of the most valuable capital of the enterprise. However we don’t have the prevailing economic condition of the region in general and of Cebu in particular to support an increase as of this moment,” said Benjamin Avila, CCCI vice president.

Joy Chan, Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, pushed for an exemption from any increase.

Manolet Dinsay, who represented the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businesses in Bohol are still trying to recover from the devastating impact of the 7.2-magnitude quake in 2013.

They presented their position paper on the proposed wage increase during the public hearing yesterday.

Two labor groups have filed a petition asking for an across-the-board increase. The Cebu Labor Coalition sought for an increase of P145 per day while the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is asking for a P92 increase per day.

The current minimum wage in Central Visayas ranges from P275 to P340. - Fe Marie Dumaboc @cebudailynews

Aquino gov’t not serious on child labor problem

A labor group on Thursday blasts the Aquino administration for its failure to curb the proliferation of child labor problem in the country.

Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-NAGKAISA (TUCP-NAGKAISA), said the total number of child laborers has reached to more than 5.5 million as of 2014.

Child laborers are referred to as children, who, at the tender age of 5-17 years, started working for a particular employer in a specific period of time.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) noted that in every ten working children, six were boys while four were girls.

PSA data revealed that 46.7 percent of the total child workers belong to the 15-17 year-old bracket, while 45.1 percent were 10-14 years old, and 8.2 percent were 5-9 years of age.

Under the Philippine Anti-Child Labor law, the children are not allowed to work due to their young age. But, they are forced to work due to massive poverty, said Tanjusay, which sets aside the Anti-Child Labor laws.

He added that the huge total number of child workers was sufficient basis to describe the Aquino administration as “benign” in addressing the problem.

“Right now, we consider the government effort to curb [the problem on] child laborers as benign. The government is not serious. Hindi targeted,” averred Tanjusay.

He said the government, through the collective efforts of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), are necessary to concretely addressing the problem now.

He said “it is high time for the DOLE and DSWD to dedicate common focus in creating a national program and strategy towards minimizing the number of child laborers in the country.”

Tanjusay pointed out that there is a need for the government to carry out a serious program or strategy, in order to decisively reduce the number of children who are forced to work by 250,000 every year. - Nelson S. Badilla / The Manila Times

Bill allowing foreigners to join unions passed on 2nd reading

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill, allowing foreign individuals or organizations to join trade unions in the Philippines.

"The measure shall promote the solidarity of workers and their organizations, whether inside or outside the country, or both," Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairman of the sponsoring Committee on Labor and Employment said.

On the other hand, TUCP partylist Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, author of House Bill 5886, said the Philippines should adhere to the principle of equal treatment of migrant workers and national workers as regards to trade union membership and collective bargaining.

The bill seeks to amend Presidential Decree 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines.

"The right to self-organization is a universal human and worker's right. The Philippines recognizes the right to self-organization, with the ratification of ILO (International Labor Organization) Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association," Mendoza said.

Under the measure, all aliens, natural or juridical, as well as foreign organizations with valid permits issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), may engage directly or indirectly in all forms of trade union activities but only through normal contacts between Philippine labor unions and recognized international labor centers.

Foreign workers in the country with valid permits issued by the DOLE may exercise the right to self-organization and join or assist labor organizations of their own choice for purposes of collective bargaining.

The bill also provides that foreign individuals, organizations or entities may give donations, grants or other forms of assistance, in cash or in kind, directly or indirectly, to any labor organization, group of workers or any auxiliary, such as cooperatives, credit unions and institutions engaged in research, education or communication, in relation to trade union activities. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)

TUCP to Noy: Raise minimium salary of workers

A labor group once again calls on the Aquino administration to raise the minimum wage of workers in the country.

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) said President Benigno Aquino III has a little to help an estimated P24.4 million poor workers whose income still cannot cope with the cost of basic goods and services.

TUCP Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said he is baffled why the government remains reluctant to raise the wages of poor working people amid results of government’s Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) survey, showing big disparity between family income and barest expenditures.

The poverty threshold set by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for 2014 was at P8,778 a month for a family of five to survive. However, in the first semester of 2014, average incomes of poor families were short by 27 percent of the poverty threshold.

NEDA said that poverty threshold is the minimum income set by government as required to meet basic food and non-food needs for a family of five to ensure that one remains economically and socially productive.

It showed poor workers in the informal economy, estimated to be at P21 million, who received less than the mandated minimum wage, were found to earn average monthly income of measly P6,408. This means they needed P2,370 more per month to move out of poverty in that year.

"It's very alarming that a huge problem confronting workers who fell through the cracks has not been acted upon ever since. Right now, they are coping on their own, coping by the means available to them and we feel they are totally excluded from the agenda sharing the profits," TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said.

Workers in the informal economy include construction workers, farmers, vendors, jeepney, bus, tricycle, pedicab drivers, conductors, salesladies, barbers, street-sweepers and garbage collectors.

For minimum wage earners in Metro Manila, a disparity of P1,082.31 a month from the prescribed P8,778 poverty threshold amount last year.

PSA figures show the real value of P466 minimum wage for the National Capital Region (NCR) last year was P356.64 a day or P7,695.69 a month.

This year, the current value of the current highest minimum wage of P481 is only P371.64 a day or P8,176.08 a month— still a P601.92 short compared with the 2014 P8,778 threshold.

Today, TUCP-Nagkaisa estimated the mid-year poverty threshold at P9,177 a month.

Meanwhile, Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions, said the latest ideal minimum wage should be at P1,068 a day to cover the rising costs of prices of basic food and non-food needs.

Seno said that this can be achieved through a priority legislated wage hike measure or through a uniform decision of regional wage boards.

"That is why with less than a year in office, we are still hoping President Aquino to make tough policy decisions in raising Filipino family income both at the formal and informal sector workers," Seno said. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)

Sona not a venue for fashion show — TUCP

A labor group has urged senators and congressmen, including guests not to make the State of the Nation Address (SONA) occasion a fashion show venue; it suggested a simple, formal and acceptable wear.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) observed that SONA for many years, has become a fashion event for legislators, their spouses and families.

President Benigno Aquino III will deliver his last SONA on Monday, July 27, at the Batasan complex in Quezon city.

“First of all, the SONA is not a fashion show. Second, working people feel it is illogical and unethical for our lawmakers to parade in the halls of congress wearing costly, extravagant clothes during the SONA when millions of their constituent Filipinos are languishing in hunger and poverty,” Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions said.

He said senators and members of the House of the Representatives should lead lives of simplicity and modesty as representatives of the people’s plight and aspiration.

For his part, TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said there should be a committee at both Houses that sets an internal rules teaching our lawmakers the simple way to dress and putting a cap on the cost of clothes they wear during SONA and during sessions.

“The focus of the SONA is the state of well-being of tax-paying Filipino people not the expensive clothes our solons are wearing. The essence of the gathering is not to showcase their brand new and top of the line SUVs. The center of the SONA is the people, the ordinary working people who will listen to the report of the president and validate his direction for the incoming year,” Tanjusay said.

He said the budget of P700 per head for snacks and dinner for the day is too expensive. Rather, the budget should not exceed P481 pesos the highest current amount of daily minimum wage in Metro Manila. - By Vito Barcelo / Manila Standard Today

Labor group pushes for P92 wage increase in Central Visayas

The proposed wage hike is 'too high,' says the head of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 'Let us not kill each other. Let us survive together.'

Rappler file photo by Roy Lagarde

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Associated Labor Union (ALU) is pushing for a P92 across-the-board wage increase for workers in Central Visayas, but the business sector thinks the amount is too much.

In its proposal submitted to the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board in Central Visayas (RTWPB-VII) onTuesday, July 21, the labor group said the increase is needed even though the prices of petroleum has significantly dropped.

The commodities and the cost of living, however, did not drop like the petroleum prices, according to Art Barrit of the ALU.

Other labor groups have asked for a higher across-the-board wage increase. On July 13, the Cebu Labor Coalition and the Alliance of Progressive Labor sought a P140 across-the-board wage increase for the region.

All labor groups agree that the Central Visayas' minimum wage – P340 – is lower compared to that of the National Capital Region.

The regional wage board will hold a meeting on July 31 to discuss the proposals.

In an interview with dyLA-AM, a radio station operated by the ALU-TUCP, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Maria Teresa Chan said both proposals are too high.

Based on an inflation rate of 3-4%, the increase should only be between P13.6 and P15, she said.

An amount higher than that would hurt the industry, she added. “Let us not kill each other. Let us survive together.”

She explained that 60% of Cebu businesses are anchored on the services sector, and will be significantly affected if wages are increased.

In a services business, majority of the cost is manpower, Chan said.

Chan also said that the BPO companies, which are multinational, may be able to afford the P15 increase, but other “indpenedent BPOs” will have a difficult time coping with such cost, much more with the proposed P92 and P140 across-the-board wage increase. – Rappler.com / Dale G. Israel

DOLE warns against hiring foreign workers

MANILA - Amid reports of rising number of illegal foreign workers in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday warned local commercial establishments against hiring of foreign nationals without securing necessary employment permits.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said local employers hiring foreign workers without the necessary permit from DOLE face imprisonment and other penalties.

“DOLE is strictly enforcing the revised rules for the issuance of alien employment permits (AEPs), for which our regional offices have direct responsibility,” Baldoz noted.

Baldoz has already directed all DOLE regional offices to strictly enforce the rules on the issuance of alien employment permit.

Under the Labor Code, Baldoz said, any foreign national seeking admission to the Philippines for employment purposes, and any domestic or foreign employer who desires to engage a foreign national for employment in the Philippines, are requested to obtain an Alien Employment Permit from DOLE.

“The AEP is a permit issued to a non-resident alien or foreign national seeking admission to the Philippines for work after it has been determined a competent and able Filipino citizen is unavailable or unwilling at the time of application to perform the services for which the alien is desired,” Baldoz explained.

She said an AEP is also required for foreign nationals who assume a new job position within their current organizations or those who transferred to a new position within related companies.

Based on DOLE guidelines, DOLE regional directors are authorized to conduct ocular inspection to verify legitimacy of employment of foreign national and a verification inspection of the establishment employing foreign nationals within 30 days after issuance of the AEP.

Baldoz said foreign nationals found to be working in the Philippines without a valid AEP would be fined P10,000 for every year of illegal work or fraction, while companies that illegally employed them would also be subject to a fine of P10,000 for every year of illegal employment or a fraction thereof.

DOLE will publish an AEP application to allow the general public to object to the new employment or job change of the foreign national within 30 days from the time of publication.

Baldoz said DOLE regional directors could deny an application for an AEP if the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offense or is a fugitive from justice. DOLE may also may also motu proprio, or upon petition, cancel or revoke an AEP after due process based on meritorious objection or information against the employment of the foreign nationals.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) earlier reported a continuing growth in the number of illegal foreign workers in the country for the past years.

The greater bulk of the undocumented foreign workers here, TUCP claimed are Chinese nationals while others are Koreans, Japanese, Indonesians, Malaysians and Vietnamese.

Undocumented foreign workers are employed commonly in the construction, manufacturing, electronics, and services industries located in Metro Manila, Central Visayas, Davao Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bataan and Batangas. -By Mayen Jaymalin, The Philippine Star

Gov't urged to sack 16 Chinese experts in NGCP

A labor group claims that the Chinese experts working at the National Grid Corp.of the Philippines have installed fiber optics to the command and control of the entire grid without the appropriate franchise from Congress. 

MANILA, Philippines - The 16 Chinese experts working at the country’s National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) should be replaced by Filipino experts, labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines - Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) said on Monday.

The foreigners' Alien Employment Permit will expire on July 31.

"We have a very delicate situation rife with national security interest issue where a very critical and a very strategic government facility is in the hands of and controlled by foreigners. We would like to see this corrected as quickly as possible by having the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Labor and Employment ensure the immediate termination of their work permits immediately and not allow it renewed," TUCP-Nagkaisa executive director Louie Corral said.

He said the labor group expects DOE to ensure that operations manual for the NGCP has been translated into English from Chinese in time for the transition.

"It's scandalous and irresponsible for us to have allowed that the NGCP operations manual - the command and control of the entire electricity system - to be hostaged to a foreign language and hostaged to foreign experts," Corral said.

TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said the labor group is also urging the Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Telecommunication Commission to conduct due diligence in the integrity of the entire NGCP transmission system.

"We received a reliable information alleging State Grid of China have installed fiber optics attached to the command and control of the entire grid without the appropriate franchise from the House of Representaives. This poses, we have a serious national security concern given the current state of play of China-Philippine relations," Tanjusay said.

The Philippines and China are now locked in an arbitration before a tribunal at The Hague, Netherlands in connection with West Philippine Sea dispute. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)

Passage of Typhoon Code Law sought

MANILA, Philippines - Employers would be required to adopt a policy disallowing deduction from salaries of employees unable to report for work during typhoons when a bill seeking a Typhoon Code is passed into law.

Labor unions Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) are asking Congress to immediately pass into law the bill of Diwa Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar.

“We look forward for the immediate approval of the bill because it will enhance workers’ productivity when it becomes a law,” TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.

KMU said companies not related to saving lives should be prohibited from forcing their workers to report for work during typhoons.

“To simplify things, I think the (rules) in suspension of classes could serve as a gauge when workers could stay home and not report for work,” KMU said.

Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) needs to study the bill before coming out with an official position.

“If this code will cover wages and benefits of workers during typhoons, they are in full conformity with the labor code, in which case I have no objections,” she said.- By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)

Govt urged to prepare contingency plans for Pinoys in Greece

A labor group on Tuesday urged the government to prepare contingency plans for Filipinos who may be affected by Greece's economic crisis, less than a week after the debt-ridden European nation voted no to bailout reform proposals.

"The current events had already resulted in a major decline in the service and tourism industry—hotels, restaurants, cruise ships— where majority of Filipino OFWs are employed," said Louie Corral, executive director of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa), in a statement.

"Clearly, cash will be tight for Greeks and many do not even know where their next paycheck will come from. What more for our OFWs?" Corral added.

Filipinos were unable to remit their money home last week after Greek banks limited their activities due to capital control. Greek nationals were also limited to €60 per ATM withdrawal.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said on Monday that Filipinos were secure in their jobs despite the economic crisis and that they may still find jobs in other countries should they need new employment.

Despite this, TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan Tanjusay called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to create contingency plans to support OFW's to relieve the impact the Greek financial crisis may have on them.

DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said the government is now studying the effects of the Greek referendum on OFW prospects and that it has already advised Filipinos in Greece to prepare for any eventuality.

There is an estimated 61,500 Filipino workers in Greece. Of this, 11,500, mostly domestic helpers, are land-based, while 60,000 are seafarers.

Majority of Greeks voted against an international bailout offer on Sunday, in a move opposition members warned could result in Greece being booted out of the Eurozone. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News