ADVERTISEMENT
“President Duterte’s ‘compromise’ means that he wants workers to be exploited indefinitely; and that we could never accept.”
These are just some examples readily provided by one labor organization.
Marklen Maojo Maga, 39, was arrested by policemen in plainclothes at around 8:40 a.m. after he brought his son to school. It was only in the evening that his family and lawyers confirmed that he is being held at the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group compound in Camp Crame.
The consensus among labor groups is that contractual workers constitute at least half of the employed, and in many instances, up to eight in every 10 employed.
On January 29, around 1 p.m., soldiers from the 66th IBPA & 25th IBPA gathered the residents of Sitio Pogi, Brgy. San Miguel, Compostela, and presented names of civilians they alleged to have links and tasks in the revolutionary NPA, including some union leaders of a banana company, namely Roland Cobrado, Perlita Milallos, and Elmer Atamosa.
From the transport groups’ gathering in Welcome Rotonda up to the area near UST and on to Morayta going to Mendiola Bridge (Chino Roces), the protesters were repeatedly confronted by policemen, Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Metro Manila Development Authority personnel.
“We welcome and appreciate the effort of Sen. Grace Poe. That’s what we want to hear from the government.”
The selling price of the new jeepneys the government wanted the operators to purchase ranged from P1.5 million to P1.6 million ($27,840 to $31.82). Under a seven-year loan package with interest, the final price would be more than P2 million each, making the government-vetted jeepney as costly as a sports utility vehicle.
In a recent study of the ILO, it found out that 61 percent of all domestic workers in Asia were entirely excluded from labor protection, and only three percent enjoyed equal protection with other general workers.
“Our proposal details steps for the modernization and nationalization of our mass transport system. But Duterte personally rejected our request and instead told us to hold a two-month strike first, and he would give us a permit.” - Piston
“Why will jeepney operators accept indebtedness when the jeepneys they already have can be rehabilitated to fit the clean air, safety and other requirements of the government?”
It was Pres. Duterte himself who urged the drivers to go on a strike if they are indeed opposed to jeepney phaseout.
Various groups lambasted the mall conglomerate for exploitation of workers.
While public hospitals are understaffed, government fails to fill some 20,000 vacancies for health workers.
The House of Representatives has passed House Bill 6152 this week. It will allow employers to implement four-day or five-day workweek with workers still clocking in a total 48 hours of work per week. This would mean 9.6 hours to 12 work hours per day, without overtime pay.
“It’s as if they’re just playing with us workers.”
‘Mine companies let workers’ families starve while they rake in huge profits. The workers’ plight has taken a turn for the worse under Martial Law in Mindanao, given its assault on their right to express legitimate demands, form an assembly, and hold strikes.’
“We cannot be blocked by legalities that would further put workers away from their rightful demands.”
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.
Save as PDF