Marching under the theme “Kalayaan Mula sa Pulitikong Kawatan,
Delubyong Kahirapan, Trahedyang mula sa Kalikasan”, some 5,000 members
of the broad labor coalition NAGKAISA (United) took to the streets today
to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the plebeian hero Andres
Bonifacio.
The protest, which assembled in the morning at the Mehan Garden for a
short program and wreath-laying, marched to Mendiola at noon to call on
President Aquino to urgently address corruption, poverty and climate
crisis.
The group also demanded that their hero be declared as the first president of the Philippine republic.
Turning in his grave
Josua Mata, NAGKAISA convenor and Alliance of Progressive Labor
(APL-SENTRO) Secretary-General, said the miserable state of Filipino
workers and the dark clouds of hopelessness hovering above the nation
are enough for Bonifacio to be turning in his grave.
“NAGKAISA thus call on the Aquino administration to address the
problems of low wages, contractualization, spiraling electricity and
water rates, uncontrolled oil prices, forcible demolition of informal
settlers and, political patronage and corruption,” said Mata.
He added that the State not only has the duty of providing full
protection but also of raising the dignity of labor. “One step to
dignify labor’s role in our struggle for independence is to rectify
historical errors and proclaim the late Supremo as the first president
of the Philippine republic,” he said.
Corruption and elite rule
Among the issues highlighted at the protest was the controversial
pork barrel scam. Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) president
Leody de Guzman said, “Workers are being made to believe the so-called
‘tuwid na daan’ of the Aquino regime. Yet, despite the all-too familiar
critique against the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for
breeding political patronage, this seemingly anti-corrupt administration
doubled it in 2010”. The Supreme Court declared the PDAF
unconstitutional last November 19.
De Guzman added, “We owe this victory against the PDAF to the
thousands that participated in the anti-pork barrel protests since the
August 26 Million People March in Luneta. Although we welcome the recent
decision of the Court, we call on the people to remain vigilant.
Traditional and elitist politicians like senate president Drilon and
budget secretary Abad are now seeking loopholes to retain the
legislative largesse and the entire pork barrel system. Don’t expect
political dynasties to go down without a fight”.
Poverty, low wages and contractualization
At the NAGKAISA mass action, speakers tackled gut-issues such as
contractualization, starvation, wages and high power rates. Gerry
Rivera, president of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association
(PALEA) stated, “PALEA has lifted our picket lines because we have won
the battle at PAL through the collective solidarity of NAGKAISA and the
entire labor movement. But the fight for regular jobs is not yet over,
the scourge of contractualization remains as the number one threat to
workers’ rights and welfare”.
Last November 14, PAL management settled with PALEA which members
have daringly fought and resisted the company’s outsourcing,
contractualization program for 26 months. The settlement wins back the
union and its members’ status as regular employees. Renato Magtubo of
Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), meanwhile, criticized the Aquino
administration for preserving starvation wages.
“Wage Order 18 of the NCR wage board is the lowest pay hike for
minimum wages in its entire history. Last May 2012, after Labor Day,
Noynoy echoed the capitalist blackmail line against wage increases by
threatening us with retrenchment and closures. This yellow government
maintains wages far below the cost of living in adherence to its tacit
policy of cheap labor,” Magtubo avowed.
Alan Tanjusay, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)
spokesperson added that the purchasing power of current wages is falling
due to spiraling commodity prices and electricity rates. He said,
“Electricity rates in the country are among the highest in Asia, causing
not only the unabated increase in prices and the decrease in real
wages. High power rates are the single most deterrent to investments
thereby preventing job creation that is essential to genuine inclusive
growth”.
Climate change and man-made calamities
Nagkaisa bewailed that a century and half hence the birth of Gat
Andres Bonifacio and the nation is still in shambles. Super typhoons
have become the new normal due to climate change and global warming. The
recent disasters brought by earthquakes and storms revealed the
government’s ineptitude to respond to natural calamities.
“Unless the Aquino administration becomes an active player in the
global campaign for climate justice, for lower carbon emissions from
advanced countries and for reparations to devastated Third World
countries, it will be forever remembered in history as the worst
man-made calamity to hit the nation,” Mata concluded.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Broad labor vows to carry on with the fight against poverty, corruption, climate crisis
On 150th Day of Bonifacio:
Marching under the theme "Kalayaan Mula sa Pulitikong Kawatan, Delubyong Kahirapan, Trahedyang mula sa Kalikasan", some 5,000 members of the broad labor coalition NAGKAISA (United) took to the streets today to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the plebeian hero Andres Bonifacio.
The protest, which assembled in the morning at the Mehan Garden for a short program and wreath-laying, marched to Mendiola at noon to call on President Aquino to urgently address corruption, poverty and climate crisis.
The group also demanded that their hero be declared as the first president of the Philippine republic.
Turning in his grave
Josua Mata, NAGKAISA convenor and Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL-SENTRO) Secretary-General, said the miserable state of Filipino workers and the dark clouds of hopelessness hovering above the nation are enough for Bonifacio to be turning in his grave.
“NAGKAISA thus call on the Aquino administration to address the problems of low wages, contractualization, spiraling electricity and water rates, uncontrolled oil prices, forcible demolition of informal settlers and, political patronage and corruption,” said Mata.
He added that the State not only has the duty of providing full protection but also of raising the dignity of labor. “One step to dignify labor’s role in our struggle for independence is to rectify historical errors and proclaim the late Supremo as the first president of the Philippine republic,” he said.
Corruption and elite rule
Among the issues highlighted at the protest was the controversial pork barrel scam. Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) president Leody de Guzman said, “Workers are being made to believe the so-called ‘tuwid na daan’ of the Aquino regime. Yet, despite the all-too familiar critique against the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for breeding political patronage, this seemingly anti-corrupt administration doubled it in 2010”. The Supreme Court declared the PDAF unconstitutional last November 19.
De Guzman added, “We owe this victory against the PDAF to the thousands that participated in the anti-pork barrel protests since the August 26 Million People March in Luneta. Although we welcome the recent decision of the Court, we call on the people to remain vigilant. Traditional and elitist politicians like senate president Drilon and budget secretary Abad are now seeking loopholes to retain the legislative largesse and the entire pork barrel system. Don’t expect political dynasties to go down without a fight”.
Poverty, low wages and contractualization
At the NAGKAISA mass action, speakers tackled gut-issues such as contractualization, starvation, wages and high power rates.
Gerry Rivera, president of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) stated, “PALEA has lifted our picket lines because we have won the battle at PAL through the collective solidarity of NAGKAISA and the entire labor movement. But the fight for regular jobs is not yet over, the scourge of contractualization remains as the number one threat to workers’ rights and welfare”.
Last November 14, PAL management settled with PALEA which members have daringly fought and resisted the company’s outsourcing/contractualization program for 26 months. The settlement wins back the union and its members' status as regular employees.
Renato Magtubo of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), meanwhile, criticized the Aquino administration for preserving starvation wages.
“Wage Order 18 of the NCR wage board is the lowest pay hike for minimum wages in its entire history. Last May 2012, after Labor Day, Noynoy echoed the capitalist blackmail line against wage increases by threatening us with retrenchment and closures. This yellow government maintains wages far below the cost of living in adherence to its tacit policy of cheap labor,” Magtubo avowed.
Climate change and man-made calamities
Nagkaisa bewailed that a century and half hence the birth of Gat Andres Bonifacio and the nation is still in shambles. Super typhoons have become the new normal due to climate change and global warming. The recent disasters brought by earthquakes and storms revealed the government’s ineptitude to respond to natural calamities.
“Unless the Aquino administration becomes an active player in the global campaign for climate justice, for lower carbon emissions from advanced countries and for reparations to devastated Third World countries, it will be forever remembered in history as the worst man-made calamity to hit the nation,” Mata concluded.
Marching under the theme "Kalayaan Mula sa Pulitikong Kawatan, Delubyong Kahirapan, Trahedyang mula sa Kalikasan", some 5,000 members of the broad labor coalition NAGKAISA (United) took to the streets today to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the plebeian hero Andres Bonifacio.
The protest, which assembled in the morning at the Mehan Garden for a short program and wreath-laying, marched to Mendiola at noon to call on President Aquino to urgently address corruption, poverty and climate crisis.
The group also demanded that their hero be declared as the first president of the Philippine republic.
Turning in his grave
Josua Mata, NAGKAISA convenor and Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL-SENTRO) Secretary-General, said the miserable state of Filipino workers and the dark clouds of hopelessness hovering above the nation are enough for Bonifacio to be turning in his grave.
“NAGKAISA thus call on the Aquino administration to address the problems of low wages, contractualization, spiraling electricity and water rates, uncontrolled oil prices, forcible demolition of informal settlers and, political patronage and corruption,” said Mata.
He added that the State not only has the duty of providing full protection but also of raising the dignity of labor. “One step to dignify labor’s role in our struggle for independence is to rectify historical errors and proclaim the late Supremo as the first president of the Philippine republic,” he said.
Corruption and elite rule
Among the issues highlighted at the protest was the controversial pork barrel scam. Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) president Leody de Guzman said, “Workers are being made to believe the so-called ‘tuwid na daan’ of the Aquino regime. Yet, despite the all-too familiar critique against the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for breeding political patronage, this seemingly anti-corrupt administration doubled it in 2010”. The Supreme Court declared the PDAF unconstitutional last November 19.
De Guzman added, “We owe this victory against the PDAF to the thousands that participated in the anti-pork barrel protests since the August 26 Million People March in Luneta. Although we welcome the recent decision of the Court, we call on the people to remain vigilant. Traditional and elitist politicians like senate president Drilon and budget secretary Abad are now seeking loopholes to retain the legislative largesse and the entire pork barrel system. Don’t expect political dynasties to go down without a fight”.
Poverty, low wages and contractualization
At the NAGKAISA mass action, speakers tackled gut-issues such as contractualization, starvation, wages and high power rates.
Gerry Rivera, president of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) stated, “PALEA has lifted our picket lines because we have won the battle at PAL through the collective solidarity of NAGKAISA and the entire labor movement. But the fight for regular jobs is not yet over, the scourge of contractualization remains as the number one threat to workers’ rights and welfare”.
Last November 14, PAL management settled with PALEA which members have daringly fought and resisted the company’s outsourcing/contractualization program for 26 months. The settlement wins back the union and its members' status as regular employees.
Renato Magtubo of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), meanwhile, criticized the Aquino administration for preserving starvation wages.
“Wage Order 18 of the NCR wage board is the lowest pay hike for minimum wages in its entire history. Last May 2012, after Labor Day, Noynoy echoed the capitalist blackmail line against wage increases by threatening us with retrenchment and closures. This yellow government maintains wages far below the cost of living in adherence to its tacit policy of cheap labor,” Magtubo avowed.
Alan Tanjusay, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) spokesperson added that the purchasing power of current wages is falling due to spiraling commodity prices and electricity rates. He said, “Electricity rates in the country are among the highest in Asia, causing not only the unabated increase in prices and the decrease in real wages. High power rates are the single most deterrent to investments thereby preventing job creation that is essential to genuine inclusive growth”.
Climate change and man-made calamities
Nagkaisa bewailed that a century and half hence the birth of Gat Andres Bonifacio and the nation is still in shambles. Super typhoons have become the new normal due to climate change and global warming. The recent disasters brought by earthquakes and storms revealed the government’s ineptitude to respond to natural calamities.
“Unless the Aquino administration becomes an active player in the global campaign for climate justice, for lower carbon emissions from advanced countries and for reparations to devastated Third World countries, it will be forever remembered in history as the worst man-made calamity to hit the nation,” Mata concluded.
Mga etiketa:
Andres Bonifacio Day,
Nagkaisa!,
News
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Bill to prohibit credit card companies from imposing hidden charges
A lawmaker has filed a bill prohibiting credit card companies, banks and similar institutions from imposing hidden penalties or costs on purchases and cash advances made by their clients.
Rep. Raymond Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP) filed House Bill 2551 as he noted the urgent need to protect the consuming public from the exorbitant rates being imposed by the credit card companies and banks.
Mendoza said the monthly rates range from 2.5 to 3.5 percent for cumulative non-compounded interest rates of 30 to 42 percent per year.
"With the penalty, late payment fees and other charges compounding, the rate is more than what '5-6' operators charge," Mendoza said.
Mendoza cited the ruling of the Supreme Court on the case of depositor Ileana Macalinao versus Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) on September 19, 2009.
Mendoza quoted the High Tribunal's decision, which ruled, "We are of the opinion that the interest rate and penalty charge should be equitably reduced to 2 percent per month or 24 percent per annum."
Mendoza said the bill will put into effect the cap on interest rates and penalty charges as ruled by the Supreme Court.
Mendoza said the bill prohibits credit card companies from charging fees for exceeding the cardholder's credit limit.
"Such fees are unconscionable since the credit card companies themselves authorized individual transactions which resulted in cardholders exceeding their credit limits," Mendoza said.
Under the bill, interest rates imposed by credit card companies on purchases and cash advances made through such facility shall in no case be higher than 1 percent per month or 12 percent per annum, without compounding.
Surcharges or penalties shall likewise be limited to a ceiling of 1 percent per month, without compounding.
Rep. Raymond Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP) filed House Bill 2551 as he noted the urgent need to protect the consuming public from the exorbitant rates being imposed by the credit card companies and banks.
Mendoza said the monthly rates range from 2.5 to 3.5 percent for cumulative non-compounded interest rates of 30 to 42 percent per year.
"With the penalty, late payment fees and other charges compounding, the rate is more than what '5-6' operators charge," Mendoza said.
Mendoza cited the ruling of the Supreme Court on the case of depositor Ileana Macalinao versus Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) on September 19, 2009.
Mendoza quoted the High Tribunal's decision, which ruled, "We are of the opinion that the interest rate and penalty charge should be equitably reduced to 2 percent per month or 24 percent per annum."
Mendoza said the bill will put into effect the cap on interest rates and penalty charges as ruled by the Supreme Court.
Mendoza said the bill prohibits credit card companies from charging fees for exceeding the cardholder's credit limit.
"Such fees are unconscionable since the credit card companies themselves authorized individual transactions which resulted in cardholders exceeding their credit limits," Mendoza said.
Under the bill, interest rates imposed by credit card companies on purchases and cash advances made through such facility shall in no case be higher than 1 percent per month or 12 percent per annum, without compounding.
Surcharges or penalties shall likewise be limited to a ceiling of 1 percent per month, without compounding.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Barbers and make up artists to get SSS membership soon
A lawmaker has filed a bill protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of workers in the wellness centers, beauty and grooming salons, fitness gyms, spas and massage parlors by facilitating their membership in the Social Security System (SSS).
Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP) said under House Bill 2550, workers in wellness centers, beauty salons, fitness gyms and other interrelated services should be removed from the definition of self-employed under the SSS law.
Mendoza said barbershops, salons, spas, massage parlors, wellness or fitness centers or gyms, and any other similar entity to which the workers regularly report to render their services shall be considered their employers.
"Their employers should deduct and withhold from them the average monthly commissions, earnings, compensation or payment, as an employee's contribution to the SSS," Mendoza said.
Mendoza said the bill, which seeks to amend Republic Act 1161 or the Social Security Law, removes the workers from the definition of self-employed under the SSS law irrespective of the contractual arrangement or their non-recognition as employees.
According to Mendoza, workers of wellness centers or of the barbershops, or any other similar entity, lease the facilities of the centers and bring their own set of clients.
Mendoza said the workers, who are being paid on a per-head basis, earn a commission or share in the payments due from their clients. They are not required to observe office hours or report to the company everyday, and do not devote their time exclusively for one company for they are free to work on any other wellness facility, or to engage in any other employment.
"Under the bill, these workers are considered self-employed, thus they pay their entire SSS membership dues, and there is no one to pay the heftier employer counterpart," Mendoza said.
"Irrespective of the contractual arrangement of their non-recognition as employees, or of the kind or source of the commissions, earnings, compensation or payment for their services, barbers, hairstylist, manicurists, make-up artists, masseuse, reflexologists, gym trainers, fitness instructors or dieticians shall not be considered as self-employed," Mendoza added. - Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB
Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP) said under House Bill 2550, workers in wellness centers, beauty salons, fitness gyms and other interrelated services should be removed from the definition of self-employed under the SSS law.
Mendoza said barbershops, salons, spas, massage parlors, wellness or fitness centers or gyms, and any other similar entity to which the workers regularly report to render their services shall be considered their employers.
"Their employers should deduct and withhold from them the average monthly commissions, earnings, compensation or payment, as an employee's contribution to the SSS," Mendoza said.
Mendoza said the bill, which seeks to amend Republic Act 1161 or the Social Security Law, removes the workers from the definition of self-employed under the SSS law irrespective of the contractual arrangement or their non-recognition as employees.
"These workers would be able to continue being an active SSS member and reap the benefits while they are still working or upon their retirement," Mendoza said.
According to Mendoza, workers of wellness centers or of the barbershops, or any other similar entity, lease the facilities of the centers and bring their own set of clients.
Mendoza said the workers, who are being paid on a per-head basis, earn a commission or share in the payments due from their clients. They are not required to observe office hours or report to the company everyday, and do not devote their time exclusively for one company for they are free to work on any other wellness facility, or to engage in any other employment.
"Under the bill, these workers are considered self-employed, thus they pay their entire SSS membership dues, and there is no one to pay the heftier employer counterpart," Mendoza said.
"Irrespective of the contractual arrangement of their non-recognition as employees, or of the kind or source of the commissions, earnings, compensation or payment for their services, barbers, hairstylist, manicurists, make-up artists, masseuse, reflexologists, gym trainers, fitness instructors or dieticians shall not be considered as self-employed," Mendoza added. - Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB
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