Fast-food chains employees need educational incentives

Here’s a side story to the battle that’s going on in Congress between a union group and foreign/local management groups over the security of tenure of private sector workers and stiffer regulation in the much-abused use of temporary labor.

An unknown factor behind the unprecedented success of the giant food chain industry is an unending line of unsung heroes—young blood, so to speak, infused into its system—students and out-of-school youth hired to work by the hour on the hour, for a minimum of four hours and a maximum of six hours a day, paid on a per hour basis under a five-month contract.

By virtue of his/her occupation, the student is accepted and allowed to work and study—or more precisely, to work in order to continue with his studies. Only to find that once inside, both hands and feet get tied to a non-stop job of physical stress—in the kitchen, over the counter, janitorial, cargo, pantry and delivery services. After working hours, he leaves and goes—to commute for another hour or so—to attend his class. In the classroom he sits back on his chair and falls asleep.

Some questions are raised: Isn’t there any other sector in society better fit for this kind of set-up? In the face of the large-scale unemployment problem today, why tap the studentry? Will profit commensurate benefits (if any) for the majority of those working students who eventually surrender their studies in favor of a job on hand? At the rate dropouts outnumber those who stick to work-and-study, doesn’t employment in this case defeat the purpose?

“Baka hindi na ako magaaral (o babalik sa pagaaral) kasi may trabaho na po ako” is not an uncommon reply from students asked about their work in fast-food chains. Thus, a student puts aside his studies (his main occupation) and goes to the level of a daily wage earner who will be jumping his way from one establishment to another (for life maybe). At this point, even the parents find themselves at a loss.

The consequences may be as follows: After a mental block, a shift of priority/goal follows, and then a step is taken . . . on the wrong direction.

Blame who? Isn’t anyone answerable for the “catch,” or rather, for throwing the net where the weak and vulnerable jump in?

While acknowledgement should be given to some companies that grant scholarships or try to ease work pressure on deserving student-employees, more incentives, by way of perks or rewards, would underscore the value of education in the workplace and encourage student-employees to continue studying.

And as union groups seek to stop the abusive use of temporary labor, a louder call is for viable constructive measures by which companies challenge working students and out-of-school youth to make their temporary status not as an end but a means to an end. –Philippine Daily Inquirer

—LOURDES OBEN SANTOS,
lobensan@yahoo.com