TUCP sees more job losses with power rate hike

Published by rudy Date posted on April 13, 2009

MANILA, Philippines – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) warned the government yesterday that more workers are expected to lose their jobs due to higher cost of electricity.

TUCP, the country’s largest labor group, said higher power cost could force more companies, particularly export firms, to shut down operations or retrench workers.

“The upward adjustments in Napocor (National Power Corp.) rates will definitely have the effect of an extra heavy tax on businesses and households,” said TUCP secretary-general and former senator Ernesto Herrera.

Herrera explained that power rate increases are counterproductive, and have tremendous potential to inflate the cost of company operations as well as prices of consumer goods and services.

“It’s even more difficult for many firms to cope with the sudden fall in their export sales due to the global economic meltdown, and force them to cut some more on their labor costs,” he said.

Herrera added that higher power charges would also weigh down on non-exporting firms already reeling from the decline in domestic consumer spending amid mounting job losses and the unusually harsh economic conditions.

He identified the power-intensive industries that include construction, fertilizer, cement, ceramics, steel, petrochemicals, aluminum, pulp and paper, glass, and basic chemicals could be affected by higher electricity rates.

Herrera said among export-oriented industries, the power-intensive manufacturer of electronics as well as garments and textiles are “extremely vulnerable to higher electricity charges.”

“Retail trade will likewise suffer, since large shopping malls, supermarkets and restaurants tend to consume a lot of electricity for air-conditioning, lighting and refrigeration,” Herrera pointed out.

Even call centers and other business process outsourcing providers risk being negatively impacted since they operate day and night, seven days a week, he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) advised displaced workers to look for employment online as it brings the “Jobapalooza” mobile caravan in various barangays in Manila.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said the Jobapalooza Mobile Caravan is equipped with Internet-ready computers and will help jobseekers from various barangays in Metro Manila to seek employment.

“They will just register online with the Labor Day Jobapalooza where participating employers would look for workers who meet their requirements,” he said.

Roque said upon registration with the Mobile Caravan, jobseekers would get an emailed ticket to the Jobapalooza Job Fair and concert, which would be held at SM Mall of Asia on May 1. –Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

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 #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

July


3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 Ju
ly – International Plastic Bag Free Day
 
5 July –
World Youth Skills Day 
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day 
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.