WE WISH to call attention to Judy Quiros’ news report titled “Iran embargo used as excuse to exempt firms from wage hikes.” (Inquirer, 10/28/10)
The report inaccurately attributed to me this statement: “She said for the banana industry, giving wage increase to workers at this time was simply not possible.” (Paragraph 8)
I never made that statement. Neither was I interviewed by Quiros about the issue. Our records also show that she was not present during the Joint Regional Development Council XI Economic and Social Development Committee meeting on Oct. 19, where the comment was supposedly made. After the meeting, our office issued a press release which Quiros could have used as her reference. However, there was no such statement in that press release.
The statement could be subject to different interpretations, especially that it supposedly came from me, a member of the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB).
Also, we believe that the title of the report itself is inaccurate. The RTWPB XI has not come up with a final decision on the wage exemptions for banana companies as a result of the Iran embargo. As a standard operating procedure, matters on wage adjustments are publicly announced by the RTWPB XI chair who is the director of the Department of Labor and Employment, in an ex-officio capacity. Given this, we would appreciate a correction to that news item in the interest of responsible journalism and to erase any wrong impression that may have been created by the statement wrongly attributed to me.
—MARIA LOURDES D. LIM,
Ceso II, regional director,
National Economic and
Development Authority,
Region XI-Davao
The report merely stated that “(s)he (Regional Director Maria Lourdes Lim) said for the banana industry, giving wage increase to workers at this time was simply not possible.” It did not say she favored the exemption. Yes, I wrote the story based on the Neda statement e-mailed to me. I never said in the story that I was there during the meeting.
—JUDY QUIROS,
correspondent, Inquirer Mindanao
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!
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Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
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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
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March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
Mar 4— Employee Appreciation Day
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Mar 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Mar 27 — Earth Hour
