New homes, jobs, livelihood grants await workers on Labor Day

MANILA, Philippines – New homes, jobs and livelihood grants await Filipino workers on Labor Day.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday reported that a package of wide-ranging opportunities is being wrapped as a Labor Day gift for workers nationwide.

“We have so many options available for our workers and in May they can choose whether to get a new job or set up their own business,” Labor Secretary Marianito Roque disclosed.

Roque said more than 200,000 local and overseas jobs would be available for new graduates, displaced workers and other job seekers during the Labor Day celebration to be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Labor Undersecretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that as of yesterday, a total of 221,457 vacancies are already up for grabs in the country’s biggest job fair ever dubbed “JOBapalooza’09.”

Of the total vacancies, 176,000 are overseas employment opportunities, particularly in the Middle East, while the rest are local jobs.

Jobs available abroad are for construction workers. Call center agents, information technology experts and pharmaceutical employees are needed in local companies.

Baldoz noted that each of the 1,683 employers, including 853 foreign principals who will participate in the jobs fair, also pledged to hire on the spot at least three workers on Labor Day.

She added that based on preliminary reports gathered by DOLE, about 21,000 job seekers have already pre-registered for the job fair.

Labor officials expressed confidence that there will be a significant reduction in the current 2.9 million unemployed nationwide because of the month-long job fair.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s largest labor group, said the reported 50,000 workers displaced by the economic crisis will be prioritized in the jobs fair.

Aside from jobs, Roque said DOLE will also give out P5,000 grants to displaced workers who would opt to put up their own business or other source of livelihood.

“We have already released a total of P70 million for livelihood grants to our displaced workers nationwide, but for Labor Day alone we have allocated P7 million for workers who would seek livelihood grants,” he said.

Roque added that aside from the financial support, DOLE would also provide technical assistance and skills training to help the workers set up their own business.

He said skills re-training will also be given during the May 1 fair to improve the ability of workers and enhance their qualification, while enabling employers to easily find the needed manpower.

For displaced OFWs, Roque said, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will be giving out P50,000 loan assistance.

Checks are now ready for 200 displaced workers who opted to put up their own enterprise instead of returning for employment abroad.

The labor chief also announced that Pag-Ibig fund will be raffling off two new houses and lots for lucky workers who will attend the May 1 affair at SMX.

Although there will be no wage hike announcement, Roque said the government has not ruled out the possibility of a salary increase for minimum wage earners this year.

He said the different Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) are just awaiting the end of the one-year prohibition on the issuance of wage orders.

“The last wage increase in NCR was given last July 2008, so maybe by July this year, the board can already review the possibility of salary hike,” he said.

In the meantime, DOLE reminded employers nationwide to give the mandated holiday pay to their employees who work on May 1.

Roque said May 1 is a regular holiday nationwide and thus workers are entitled to receive double their daily basic pay if they would render services on that day.

He said additional 30 percent, on top of the 200 percent, will be given to workers in excess of eight hours.

Those who will opt not to report for work are still entitled to receive their daily basic pay.

‘No permit, no rally’

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has placed Central Luzon on full-alert status to preempt any destabilization plan and illegal activities of criminal elements that may take advantage of the situation.

The PNP reminded militant groups and labor organizations that the “no permit, no rally” policy would be strictly implemented during Labor Day celebrations, even as the whole region has been placed on full alert status amid reported threats to vital installations, economic areas, including big malls and convergence points posed by communist rebels and lawless elements.

Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo de la Cruz, PNP Regional Office 3 director, said that any rally or protest action held without the required permit would be dispersed by law enforcement authorities.

However, De la Cruz said that the PNP would exercise maximum tolerance, and are also ready to deploy Contingency Disturbance Management (CDM) augmentation teams to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to maintain peace and order. – With Manny Galvez, Ric Sapnu, Artemio Dumlao, Sandy Araneta

In Manila, a meeting between the representatives of the Manila city government, the police and militant groups was held yesterday to ensure a peaceful observance of Labor Day.

The meeting was presided over by acting Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and was joined by Ric de Guzman, chief of staff of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, City Hall Police Chief Senior Superintendent Alex Gutierrez and other station commanders.

Also in attendance were Manila Police District Director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay and National Capital Region Office Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales.

The protesters, according to Moreno, will be allowed to occupy only half of the Don Chino Roces Bridge in Mendiola.

Each group is allowed to use the bridge at an allotted time and in shifts, unless they want to be together.

He also clarified that protesters are allowed to put up streamers or banners but not to the extent of pasting them on walls or islands.

Moreno said the police, led by Rosales and Magtibay, have given their assurance that maximum tolerance will be employed during the rallies. –-Mayen Jaymalin with Manny Galvez, Ric Sapnu, Artemio Dumlao, Sandy Araneta, Philippine Star