The Leader: Labor Coalition Nagkaisa

The Leader: Labor Coalition Nagkaisa:



Source:  Alan A. Tanjusay     Spokesman & OIC-Media and Public nformation Department, TUCP

Nagkaisa Labor Groups’ Labor Day Demands Are Now in Aquino’s Hands

The eight workers’ issues and non-wage benefits raised by labor group coalition Nagkaisa since May 2012 are now in the hands of President Aquino to act on following a last minute series of meetings with members of his cabinet with the representatives of the group on Wednesday.

Final details of the issues were threshed out in meetings that took place on April 8 with the secretaries of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and on the following day with the Department of Energy (DOE), said Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

“After more than 100 man hours of discussions with different government staffs, undersecretaries and secretaries within the two year period, we think it is more than fair enough to say that the ball is in the hands of President Aquino. These issues are now on his table,” said Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP and a convenor of Nagkaisa.

The issues that were finalized by the Nagkaisa and the cabinet level are for government to (1) ensure security of tenure of workers by eliminating contractualization scheme and deter extra-judicial killing of union organizers and journalists, (2) provide exemption and enhancement on minimum wage taxation, (3) institutionalize core labor standards in the agro-industrial plan, (4) lowering  of the cost of electricity and protect consumers from the cartelization of power, (5) provide affordable housing program and non-violent transfer of urban poor communities from danger zones, (7) ratification of ILO Convention 151—a convention concerning protection of the right to organize and procedures for determining conditions for employment in the government service, and (8) ensure a jobs-led and workers’ sector participation in the planning and implementation of programs of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Yolanda-hit areas.

The group also expects Aquino to make an unequivocal commitment to his promised regular dialogue with Nagkaisa on emergent issues affecting the working class.

Labor groups in Nagkaisa were always dismayed at Aquino’s alleged disconnect with workers’ issues raised by Nagkaisa every time he meets with labor group representatives in the traditional labor day breakfast since 2010 in Malacanang palace.

“If we want to emphasize how important these issues are to labor groups in Nagkaisa, well, we have expended substantial amount of unions’ financial and manpower resources for these meetings to enlighten executives the need for government to address these issues that endangers Filipino workers and their families today. As representatives of workers, we have done our part in transmitting these concerns to the administration. We will now observe very closely how the president will respond to these issues and how he treats the working people on or before May 1 Labor day,” said Frank Mero, chairperson of Sentro.

However, the group emphasized Nagkaisa will proceed with their Labor day activities regardless of Aquino’s response.

“With or without President Aquino’s imprimatur on these issues, Nagkaisa labor groups will go on with our May 1 Labor day simultaneous activities nationwide. President Aquino may chose or not chose to favorably or unfavorably respond to some or to all issues we have raised to his attention, he has that choice. But Nagkaisa will pursue resolution of the issues at will whatever the cost and in any possible way because these issues are legitimate and important for workers,” added Wilson Fortaleza, spokesman of the Partido Manggagawa.

Aside from ALU, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), PM and Sentro, there are 47 other member labor federation and workers’ organizations in Nagkaisa. It was established in April 2011, the other members of Nagkaisa includes Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), Philippine Government Empoyees Association (PGEA), Confederation of Independent Unions (CIU) and KAMAO. 

Source: Alan A. Tanjusay   Spokesman & OIC-Media and Public Information Department, TUCP

FORECLOSED PROPERTIES FOR SALE: Why minimum wage worsens poverty

MANILA, Philippines – Some Filipinos are now willing to work below minimum wage as long as they can earn money.

Based on the law, workers should be given minimum wage to ensure a decent standard of living for them and their families.

However, a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies showed that a higher minimum wage actually worsens poverty.

“Generally, (minimum wage is) not only unhelpful but highly detrimental to the welfare of the common man and the disadvantaged,” the report stated.

The PIDS report, Labor Policy Analysis for Jobs Expansion and Development, was written by Vicente Paqueo, Aniceto Orbeta, Leonardo Lanzona and Dean Dulay.

“Based on the findings, Because there’s a minimum wage, it prevents that kind of arrangement to happen,” Dr. Leonardo Lanzona of PIDS, one of the report’s authors, said.

The study says instead of uplifting the lives of poor families, minimum wage actually prevents them from finding a job, leading to a lower household income.

Source: http://www.tucp.org.ph/news/index.php/2014/04/why-minimum-wage-worsens-poverty-in-ph/ Trade Union Congress of the Philippines - Home

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