LOCAL NEWS: TUCP offers help for displaced workers

Amid the growing number of workers displaced due to the global economic crisis, the country’s largest labor group is providing assistance to retrenched workers

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the government can tap unions and workers associations in the implementation of programs to cushion the impact of the global economic crisis on employment.

“Because of their experience and familiarity with the workers, people’s organization like trade unions and OFW associations will be better conduits to extend assistance to workers who have lost their jobs,” TUCP said in a statement.

Alex Aguilar, TUCP spokesman, said trade unions and OFW groups can help monitor and process displaced workers and help workers re-acquire jobs and other alternative income opportunities.

For one, Aguilar said, TUCP is running a workers college, which provides training as well as job placement assistance.

“We can train displaced OFWs in the BPO industry, particularly in the call center and medical transcription fields,” Aguilar pointed out.

The labor center also offered to provide counseling centers for displaced workers who would require information on job opportunities, labor rights, legal representation, and information on government services.–Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star