This is the day that we pause from the daily grind to honor those who, well, do the daily grind – our labor force – and to take note of where they are situated and what is needed to, at the very least, address their concerns regarding work and industry.
According to the most-recent quarterly survey of our labor force by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), conducted this January 2017, unemployed workers number 2.76 million which is 6.6 % of the total labor force. This is a slight increase from the same month last year.
Around 63% of employed workers are salary employees or wage earners. Less than 50% of them are laborers or unskilled workers. Underemployment is also said to be at a higher-than-usual level.
The bottom line, thus, for this government, and every government before it, was to create jobs and more jobs. For this, businesses and industries must be allowed to flourish, else, where to source these jobs in the first place.
In the recent ASEAN Prosperity for All Summit 2017, the consensus was that for there to be prosperity for all there must be wealth that should be generated, and that for this to happen business and industry, as well as investments, must be stable and growing. More on the ASEAN Summit in my next column.
I trust that the current administration under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Department of Labor and Employment under a most competent Secretary, Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III, are doing all that it can to address this challenge, in line with the thrust to alleviate poverty and spur economic growth for the nation.
Build business and industry, not shut them down.
The mining industry is one such industry that must be allowed to prosper, if only for the potentials, investments, and eventually jobs that it will bring. Mining employs thousands upon thousands, not to mention the income brought to families and downstream industries. MSMEs also benefit largely from the industry, especially in those areas where mining operates.
Imagine the number of jobs lost and the income lost if mines were to be closed, or if mining investments were to be spurned.
Recently, Philex Mining Corporation entered into a Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Philex Pasig Metro Manila Employees Union (PPMMEU) after just a few months of negotiation and deliberation. There has been a healthy relationship between the Philex management led by President and CEO Eulalio B. Austin Jr. and the corporate office union led by its President Davis Macaraeg, thus no hitches when it came to discussions over the negotiation table.
Credit for this also goes to the mentoring and supervision of, as well as coordination with, the Associated Labor Unions – Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) federation to which the PPMMEU and the Philex Padcal unions belong to, under the sound leadership of my fellow Bisaya Congressman Raymund Democrito Mendoza of the TUCP Partylist and ALU-TUCP National President Michael Mendoza, as well as of ALU-TUCP Executive Vice-President Gerard Seno, and ALU-TUCP Luzon Regional Operations Officer Sofriano “Ka Undo” Mataro.
Aside from President Euls Austin, the Philex management panel was composed of Manuel V. Pangilinan as Chairman with the following members: VP and General Counsel Joan A. De Venecia, HR Group Manager Jocelyn S. Sinajon, Corporate Finance Division Manager Paraluman M. Navarro, and HR Services Supervisor Emila Lourdes D. Veloso. They were ably assisted by Engineering Group Manager Engr. Vengel A. Romero and In-House Counsel Atty. Joyce Sapla.
Aside from Union President Dave Macaraeg, the following are the other union officers: Eddie Gonzales, Vice President; Chimes Placido, Secretary; Jonna Catanyag, Treasurer; Weng Bautista, Auditor; Robert Andrada, PRO; with Mel Bernardo, Princess Abalajon, Vlenda Ocon, Mel Balidoy and Dick Canievel as Directors.
Indeed, a stable workforce boosted by business and industry, coupled with industrial peace, make for progress and development for our country.
My sincerest greetings to all Filipino workers here and abroad on this Labor Day!
Mabuhay ang Manggagawang Pilipino!