Victims cry maltreatment, nonpayment of salaries MANILA, Philippines — Two former housemaids of the businessman-brother of tycoon Lucio Tan Thursday filed a complaint against Mariano Tanenglian and his family, alleging that they were maltreated and detained against their will.

The plight of domestic workers here and abroad prompted international and local stakeholders, including the Philippine government, to work together to strengthen protection of the workers as well as to promote domestic work as decent work.

Over thirty union officers and organizers from three unions TUCP, FFW and AIHRWU conducted a successful leafletting before Sun Life Headquarters In Makati City despite numerous confrontations with headquarters security officers.

SINGAPORE: Asia is outpacing the United States and Europe in the rebound from the global economic slump, thanks to multibillion-dollar stimulus packages and robust demand from China, analysts said.

THE National Competitiveness Council (NCC) is pushing for so-called five-star projects to boost the country’s rankings in competitiveness surveys.

THE education sector continues to get a much-needed shot in the arm from private initiatives such as the free seminars on teaching styles being conducted by a non-government organization to help public schools teachers adapt to the ever-evolving learning environment.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday threatened to file cases against pharmacies and private hospitals that are not implementing the government price control on essential medicine pursuant to the Cheaper Medicine Law.

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines   – Witnesses to the gruesome murders of Filipino journalists live in fear, according to a report of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released yesterday.

Consulting firm says more to be brought back AFTER CUTTING 500 jobs earlier in the year, global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing firm Accenture has started rehiring personnel.

If you feel lonely, chances are it’s your own fault. Loneliness is caused by an emptiness within. You can be lonely in a crowd, in a noisy party. Your aloneness originates in your heart. It is a feeling that is born of an idea, a thought, a belief that things are not right for you.

“Love is blind and lovers cannot see the petty follies that themselves commit,” thus has Shakespeare put in the mouth of Jessica, daughter of Shylock, in the play Merchant of Venice, words of timeless significance. Not much has changed since the 16th century and present Romeos continue to find it necessary, because of the blinding…

Latest flash indicators point to a modest Philippine economic recovery from the global financial crisis that started in October last year, the National Statistical Coordination Board said yesterday.

We’ve been talking about women’s issues for so long in this country one would think that significant strides have already been made in terms of putting in place the necessary legal framework that would guarantee the protection of women from discrimination. Unfortunately, we are a country that likes to talk endlessly about issues and show…

AN official of the National Economic and Development Authority yesterday said fuel products were overpriced by P2.30 a liter, and not P8 a liter as claimed by the agency’s former chief, Ralph Recto.

The Filipinos seem to be decreasingly proud of having a large population of Christians—despite the show of affection by millions for the notably Christian late former President Cory Aquino.

THE Philippines and India may be rivals in attracting business process outsourcing (BPO) investments this side of the globe, but the two countries are joining forces to shield the sector from looming protectionism, an official said.

Zambales is not new to mining. Acoje Mining dug for chromite in Santa Cruz for 75 years beginning in the 1930s. In 1934, Benguet Corp. began to extract chromite from the mountains of nearby Masinloc town, and continued doing so for half a century. In San Marcelino town, the Benguet-Dizon firm leveled mountains for gold,…

First of two parts SANTA CRUZ, Zambales: Nickel is not doing too well in the world market these days, but residents here do not seem to mind, even though nickel has become one of this town’s major revenue earners.

Japan’s announcement of a second-quarter growth bolsters the Philippine government’s projection that the local economy will be spared from a recession for the rest of this year.

Director-General Ralph Recto last week triggered much speculation that there must be more than meets the eye behind his unexpected and sudden departure from the Arroyo Cabinet. While he publicly explains that he has decided to leave to explore his political options for next year, the natural object of people’s suspicion has been the recent…

tHE Commission on Elections says it will be stricter in screening all party-list groups before accrediting them to join the 2010 elections, citing a deluge of applications.

Consumers in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions were more predisposed to save up for a rainy day with the proportion of younger consumers below the age of 30 saving more than older consumers, according to a recent MasterCard survey.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Alberto Suansing said as part of the process, they will be acting on Pasang Masda’s petition of the transport group, which filed the petition last Friday. Pasang Masda wanted the minimum fare for jeep reverted to P7.50 for the first four kilometers.

THE Department of Energy and an industry lobby group are moving for a review of the law that has given oil firms a free reign in dictating prices at the pump.

Prices of goods sold in groceries and small supermarkets remain stable, as sales stay strong despite an economic slowdown, according to the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association Inc. (Pasai).

Telecommunication companies, or telcos, are upbeat about the outlook for the mobile-banking business amid the global financial crisis, executives told The Manila Times.

MANILA, Philippines – A leading consumer advocacy group yesterday proposed a return to a regulated oil industry to keep domestic oil prices in check.

MANILA, Philippines – Migrante International yesterday sought the immediate release of 18 Filipinos who were arrested Friday for being in an illegal “mixed gathering” in Saudi Arabia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

The Chinese government has been forced to cancel the privatisation of a steel firm following worker protests, the country’s state-run media has reported.

CEBU, Philippines – The seven workers of Sulpicio Lines, Inc. who sued the shipping firm before the National Labor Relations Commission may have to wait longer for the resolution of their complaint.