LABOR WATCH
DA Employees Reject Privatization,
Rationalization of Gov’t Agencies
Government employees
under the National Federation of Employees’ Associations of the Department
of Agriculture joined calls against the privatization policy of the Arroyo
administration. It vowed to fight against the rationalization of
government agencies and to push for a P3,000 ($56.65) across-the-board
monthly salary increase.
BY FLORENCE BATAWANG AND
KATHERING DEL ROSARIO
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Members of the
National Federation of Employees’ Association of the Department of
Agriculture (Nafeda) expressed strong opposition to the plan of President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration to privatize and rationalize
government agencies.
They also reiterated their demand for a
P3,000 ($56.65, based on an exchange rate of P52.96 per US dollar)
across-the-board monthly salary increase during Nafeda's 3rd
Congress held at the National
Irrigation Authority Training Center in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet, 246
kms north of Manila.
One hundred eight delegates from 21 unions
and associations nationwide attended Nafeda'a three-day congress with the
theme “Sahod. Trabaho, at Karapatan Ipaglaban! Isulong tunay na patakarang
agrikultura at pangisdaan para sa mamamayan at bayan!” (Fight for Just
Wages, Jobs, and Rights! Develop an agricultural and fisheries policy
beneficial to the people and the country!)
The congress discussed the imminent
privatization of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and Bureau of Plant
Industry (BPI). The association explained that both serve as the core
general service provider of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to its
stakeholders. Both bureaus also perform vital services needed for the
general development of DA’s functions and services.
According to Nafeda’s statement, the
privatization policy as a whole will give the private sector the power to
operate and maintain the said agencies for profit. “The state will abandon
its basic responsibility of giving services to the farmers sector in
particular and the people in general,” the statement read.
In addition, the statement also mentioned
that the shift in policy direction from public service to privatization
would lead to the retrenchment of thousands of DA employees nationwide,
and a cut back in services, functions and assets of the two bureaus.
“Through this system, the state hopes to pour cold water to the brewing
protests of state workers and the people,” Nafeda said.
Roman Sanchez, executive vice president of
Nafeda said that their federation, together with the Confederation for
Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage), and
other independent unions have been fighting for a P3,000 ($56.65) wage
increase for government employees for four years now. But instead of
heeding the call, the Arroyo administration is pushing for Executive Order
(EO) No. 366, which provides for the rationalization of government
agencies.
The EO 366 is the administration’s plan to
streamline the bureaucracy as part of its privatization policy. The
program includes a massive layoff of government employees, abolition of
the so-called “redundant” agencies (or those whose functions are similar
to the major agencies), and privatization of food, electric, and water
services.
Antonio Reyes, newly-elected president of
Nafeda, said that the administration is firm on pursuing the
implementation of EO 366 in the first half of 2006.
Sanchez said that Nafeda is also
participating in the struggle against the policies of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), particularly the Agreement on Agriculture. He said
that WTO would destroy the livelihood of Filipino farmers and make the
country dependent on imports.” This will kill local agricultural
production and millions will lose their jobs,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sanchez said that Nafeda is
critical of the retirement incentives offered by EO 366, which will only
benefit government employees with 31 years of service.
“Only 20% of the overall number of
government employees will be covered by the retirement incentives, so
majority who will lose their jobs because of the rationalization program
will not benefit from it. We will not allow this to happen,” Sanchez
expressed.
He also said that the government should
heed the people’s demand for wage increases. Nafeda criticized the 2006
budget, almost 80% of which is allotted to servicing the country’s foreign
debts. It said that an increase in the salaries of government employees
can be given if the budget will be properly allocated.
The federation also joins the call for
President Arroyo to step down.
“Instead of retrenching government
employees, it should be Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who should be terminated
for she does not represent the best interests of government employees and
the people in general,” Sanchez further expressed.
The government employees will conduct a
nationwide rally on February 14 to demand for the junking of EO 366 and to
push for a P3,000 ($56.65) across-the-board monthly salary increase.
Nordis/Posted by Bulatlat
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