Somebody asked me why there are longer labor strikes especially at this time when prices of basic commodities are skyrocketing and jobs are harder to find. Why are laborers and employees in the private sector not asking for higher wages?
I have only one explanation to this phenomenon. It must be because the “contractualization” of labor has been institutionalized. No thanks to the Labor Department which chooses to remain blind, deaf and dumb.
By contractualization, I refer to employers—owners of malls, department stores and other establishments—who hire workers on rotation basis, for a period of five months. They are then replaced by another group for another five months.
The idea is to circumvent the law, really. If casual employees continue to work for six months or more, they are by law considered permanent. They would then be entitled to benefits, like the 13th month pay, sick and vacation leaves, and others. But when these workers and laborers are rotated by agencies, which by the way are also owned by the employers, every five months, they are deemed casual workers only.
This practice has been going on for years. The Labor Department has institutionalized it simply by ignoring the problem. It’s illegal and abusive.
No strike? How can casual laborers strike when their status is only temporary?
Congress should look at this matter, if it wants to show it is serious about something other than the promotion of the agenda of its members in the Senate or the House.
Santa Banana, the Labor secretary has a lot of explaining to do. Why, this can even be a case for the Ombudsman! –Emil Jurado, Manila Standard Today
It’s women’s month!
“Support women every day of the year!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and Made-in-the-Philippines
Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
Mar 4— Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 15 — World Consumer Rights Day
Mar 18 — Global Recycling Day
Mar 21 — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Mar 23 — International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Mar 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Mar 27 — Earth Hour