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By Matthew Reysio-Cruz cities of Cebu, Davao, Baguio appease his "imperialist mas- Union Congress of the Philip- equipment or medical assistance the job contractor merely
and Leila B. Salaveiria and Bacolod, among other ar- ter," the KMU leader said. pines filed a similar petition from the compan, she said, they or supplies workers to a
@Team_Inquirer eas. In Metro Manila alone, seeking a P71o across-the-board faced the risks of rashes, dizzi- hactee and does not have suffi
some 3o,ooo would take to the ciftof cheap labor daily wage increase. ness and heart problems. cient capifal or investment,
A militant labor group said on streets, Labog said. To dramatize their calls, la- Ustarez said the KMU wel- Juson said the workers were the workers supplied perform ac
Monday it expected. loo,ooo KMU dismissed allegations bor leaders displayed a red- comed the petitions but pointed paid only P365 per day. Worst, tivities direcdy related to the
workers to join nationwide ral- by the Philippine National Po- painted, balikbdyan box to re- out that the goal was to ulti- she said, she had to watch her cipal business ofthe employer.
lies on May r, Labor Day, in a lice that members of the New porters that, they said, repre- mately iunk Republic Act No. elderly coworkers leave the Sen. Joel Villanueva, chair
;tinging rebuke of President People's Army wolld join the sented Mr. Duterte's "gift of 6727, the Wage Rationalization company without a single peso the Senate labor committee,
)uterte, whom it accused of ac- mobilizations, calling it a mar- cheap labor" to Ching. Act, which allows the minimum in retirement pay after decades high hopes that the security
:epting lopsided deals with Chi- tial law-era tactic- "President Dutefte has de- wage to differ per region. of service because they were tenure bill could still be
rese businessmen at the ex- "They are trying to scare livered his promise tg China but The law, Labog said, paved nevdr regularized. proved on final reading and
rense of Filipino workers. workers," said Lito Ustarez, he compromised our$overeign- the way for startlingly low mirii- "Make good on your the bicameral conference
Organizers said they would KMU vice chair. "It's too laugh- ty," Labog said. "we call on all mum wages in the provinces. promise to end contractualiza- when Congress' sessions
lemand a P75o national mini- able.It's notgoing to happen." Filipino workers to unite and The labor issues that tion," she said, addressing the sume later this rronth.
num wage and an end to con- At apress briefing, labor lead- march-" promise to be a galvanizing President. The session will be only
:ractualization, an issue of sin- ers called attention to ttle stark Last week, three labor ' force on May 1-low wages, three weeks before the
Iular importance to labor split-screen that played out tast groups-Kilos na Manggagawa contractualization and worsen- Security of tenure bill Congress finally adjourns.
foups that Mr. Duterte once week as Mr. Duterte attended the Metal Workers Alliance of the ing attacks on workers-con- A bill calling for an end to The House
rowed to end but had largely Belt and Road forum in Beijing, Philippines and the BPO Industry verged in the
testimony of "endo" may yet be approved has approved the security
Lbandoned, defetring to where he clinched maior invest- Employees Nbtwork*sought arl Maria Fe Juson, a factory work- when thb Senate resumes its ses- tenure bill on third reading,
longress to act on it instead. ment deals while Filipino work- increase of tr/5o in the daity mini- er at a packing plant in Com- sion after the midterm elections. the Senate, it is still
"I think it would be in the ers lalguished amid low wages mum wage in Metro Manila in a postela Valley province. Endo (end of contract) is a interpellation in the plenary.
rands of a united labor lsector] and risingpdces. petition filed with the Regional scheme in which workers are "We're optimistic thirt
o really struggle to win the bat- "Being heavily dependent on Tripartite Wages and Productivi- Exposed to chemicals hired for a fixed period so that Senate will be able to send
le against contractualization," foreign investment means that ty Board. Juson told the Inquirer that companies could avoid making security of tenure bill to the bi
:ilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chair wages will not see significant in- he wage increase, they she and other workers at Sumifru them regular employees, cameral conference just
:lmer Labog told the Inquirer. creases, because investors look said, would enable workers and Corp. are exposed daily to chemi- The security of tenure bill the Uth Congress adjoums,
We are no longer dependenton for the lowest possible source of their families to "survive" amid cals, such as tie pesticide Onieg4 would put
an end to endo and Villanueva said.
he promises ofthe President." wages," Labog said. high prices of goods and ser- which are used to prevent ba- put a stop to labor-only con- He noted that the
Rallies will be held in Metro
flhe President was purpose- vices these days. naras from dpeningtoo early. tracting. had certified the measdre as ur
4anila, Bicol region and the ly blocking a wage increase to. On Monday. the Trade Without any proieitive Under labor-only contracting, genti rNQ

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