LABOR Day is celebrated in many countries around the world on May 1. It was first declared International Workers Day in 1891 by the Second International, originally the Socialist International.
Although May Day became an important holiday in socialist countries such as China and the former Soviet Union, the Catholic Church in 1955 dedicated May 1 to Saint Joseph, the Worker, patron saint of workers and craftsmen. In the Philippines, Araw ng Manggagawa on the Monday nearest May 1 is listed among the nation’s regular holidays in RA 9492.
An annual meeting with labor leaders in Malacañang has long been a highlight of the celebration of Labor Day in this country. This year, however, a coalition of labor groups announced that they are not attending any Labor Day meeting in Malacañang. Instead, the coalition of labor groups with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines–Nagkaisa faction said they will take to the streets “to seek justice for the Filipino worker.”
The coalition said the national government has failed to act on six concerns which they presented as early as 2010, the first year of the Aquino administration. The six concerns are their calls for full employment, an across-the-board wage hike, protection for all Filipino migrant workers, quality public service, primary universal health care, and lower prices of goods and utilities.
All these six are worthy goals for the nation, but we can understand the great difficulties in the way of their realization by the government. These are all major problems of the country, particularly the call for more job opportunities, which has been blamed for the continuing problem of mass poverty. It is also behind the tragedy of Mary Jane Veloso who got entangled with drug-traffickers in her search for a better life for her family.
Instead of a Labor Day reception in Malacañang, President Aquino will be in Cebu and Bacolod today. There he may meet with local labor leaders along with local government officials. He might take the opportunity to review with them what the government has done for the workers of his country during the last five years. These accomplishments may not be up to the expectations of the nation’s labor leaders, but they could be substantial enough under the present difficult circumstances. And the President may be able to come up with some good news for labor in the last year of his administration. - Tempo
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