Message by Atty. Democrito T. Mendoza, President, TUCP during the National Productivity Convention, November 26-27, 2010

Message by Atty. Democrito T. Mendoza, President, TUCP during the National Productivity Convention, October 26-27, 2010

So, where is the money going?

When production, productivity, incomes are rising in real terms – is P22 increase in minimum wage in Manila (much lower in other regions) all that this 2nd fastest growing economy in ASEAN in 2010 can afford?

All these years’  tripartite commitment towards progress in increasing productivity through lasting partnerships, towards providing more resources for productivity programs, towards joint work on productivity improvements efforts – and what do workers get?

What will it take for this country to realize that, in the same way that employers are moved by revenues and profits, workers are moved – better, faster, stronger – by visions of increasing real wages, living wages, and better lives for their families?

We have committed tripartite efforts and contributions in the productivity movement. Labor has gone beyond mere advocacy for productivity awareness or productivity improvement programs.  Labor has its own programs, including, assisting even enterprises to design, implement and monitor low-cost improvements in productivity and occupational safety and health.

Even risking disapproval for its deeper productivity engagement from more extreme sectors – and for what?

Productivity improvement is not an accident. It is a product of genuine “PARTNERSHIP” at all levels between workers (and their organizations), enterprises and governments.

Productivity cannot thrive in the absence of proper investments in workers’ skills and capacities, good working terms and conditions, harmonious labor-management relations and respect for workers’ rights. In short, productivity cannot thrive without decent work.  Sadly, for many enterprises, these things are not the norm.

Globalization and rapid technological advances require faster initiatives and responses to raising productivity even more than the next enterprise or the next supply chain or the next global group.

Many of our enterprises or public agencies or local units are not configured for quick responses, or for quick global engagement.  So are many of our workers.  Our “RESOURCES”, so limited, need more focus.

All these provide us with excellent “OPPORTUNITIES” to learn, to do better and greater things.

Judging from the program, this Productivity Convention will give us this opportunity to discuss things, and appreciate realities and expectations, and consider efforts and rewards, and process dreams and visions.

We look forward to exciting discourses on an enabling environment for productivity, social dialogue, workers’ participation, and equitable distribution of the economy’s gains.

We thank the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for this needed break from our day-to-day engagements — to pause, to ponder, and to parley which ten things we would love to do for the sake of productivity and equity.

We wish this Convention to be a great experience!

Thank you!