Labor groups in Cebu join a protest rally against the Train law and contractualization in the Philippines. | CDND Photo / Gerard Vincent Francisco
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Members of two labor groups in Cebu gathered at the historic Colon Street for a protest rally against contractualization on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, in time for the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor).
Officers of the Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno (Ama Sugbo-KMU) and Alsa Kontraktwal said they are protesting against the Duterte’s administration’s treatment of labor workers and its failure to end contractualization in the Philippines.
AMA Sugbo KMU Spokesperson Mista Villarmero said the regularization of jobs is a long overdue issue.
“Unta hatagan og saktong trabaho ug dili na kinahanglan nga mag-import ta og mga mamumuo gikan sa China,” said Villarmero.
(Hopefully we will be given proper jobs and there will be no need to import workers from China.)
The Cebu rally was part of a simultaneous nationwide workers’ action against the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) law and job contractualization in the Philippines.
Villarmero said President Rodrigo Duterte has failed to end contractualization in the Philippines.
On May 1, 2018, the President signed an executive order (EO) against illegal contractualization, but the EO did not ban all forms of contractualization.
The protest rally also condemned the national minimum wage which, they said, is insufficient for workers with big families.
Jaime Paglinawan, chairperson of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), said Metro Cebu’s minimum wage rate of P386 is not enough for the families of the labor workers in the Philippines.
“Kun aduna kay pamilya nga lima ka sakop or unom ka sakop, kun ikaw ra ang nagtrabaho, that’s only 21 pesos per meal,” said Paglinawan, who is also the chairperson of the AMA Sugbo – KMU.
(If you are a family with five or six members, and you are the only one who is working, [the wage] is only [equivalent to] 21 pesos per meal.)
Villarmero said the protests will continue if the government will not address the rights of the labor groups.
“Magpadayon mi og protesta hangtud ihatag kun unsa ang sakto,” Villarmero said.
(We will continue to protest until we are given what is due to us.) / celr