Labor groups in Normin slams govt for workers’ plight By GERRY LEE GORIT Correspondent
CAGAYAN de Oro City--In spite of the promise of the Duterte administration, lower wages and job insecurity have remained the concerns of the millions
of workers throughout the country as labor groups and other militant sector had staged protest action during the Labor Day observance on Monday. In the region as elsewhere, the workers are suffering because of the
neglect of the government and the implementation of anti-workers policies while promoting the interests of the capitalists over the wage earners, said Wildon Barros, secretary-general of the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) in Northern
Mindanao. Among the concerns the workers in the regions have to bear, Barros said, are the low salaries and contractualization amid the skyrocketing inflation. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA), Northern Mindanao has about 1.394 million workers, 40 percent of which are employed in the agriculture sector. For instance, most of the employees in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, he said, are receiv-
ing only the current daily wage of P318 per day and KMU-NMR said this is not sufficient to provide for a family of five persons. “ That [P318] is not enough considering that study showed that See PLIGHT, page 7
MINDANAO DAILY T H E P U RV E YO R O F T R U T H , J U S T I C E , A N D D E V E LO P M E N T
Volume VI, No. 274
Website: www.mindanaodailynews.com
Tuesday
P15.00
May 2, 2017
Labor Day. Over a thousand members of the militant group Kilusang Mayo Uno march as they celebrate the 131st International Workers’ Day at the Guingona Park in Butuan City on May 1, 2017. The group calls to stop “contractualization” of laborers particularly in mining companies and oil pal plantations in Caraga.
Pass a law to end ‘endo’ PIMENTEL TO FELLOW SENATORS
S
ENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III on Monday urged his colleagues in the Senate anew to pass a law strengthening the prohibition against labor-only contract otherwise known as end of contract scheme (endo).
Pimentel made this call noting that it was “the best way to commemorate Labor Day” and that the government should continue to work to protect the welfare of Filipino Worker. His proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 117 or An Act Strengthening the Prohibition Against LaborCharcoal man works on Labor Day. This man lifts a sack of Only Contracting, would charcoal even on Labor Day at Brgy. Pasong Putik, Quirino Highway in Quezon City. amend Article 280-A of PNA photo by Oliver Marquez Presidential Decree 442, so
Marantao youth rallies behind Mayor Abinal
employees who have been rehired repeatedly “by the same group of companies, the parent and subsidiary companies, or by companies with interlocking directors” shall be considered regular employees from the date when they were first hired, regardless of whether such service is continuous or broken. “Despite the rights of workers under constitu-
tional and labor laws, there are employers who wantonly circumvent labor laws through a system that is designed to prevent workers from attaining regular employment and security of tenure,” Pimentel said. He pointed out that the gaps in the law allow the termination See pass, page 7
By MARIZ REVALES and RIC CLET, Contributors
MARANTAO, Lanao del Sur--The youth group here on Thursday (April 27, 2017) acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of former Mayor Mohammadali “Merkano” A. Abinal in establishing peace and prosperity during his incumbency as chief executive of this town for nine years.
Ms. Cassey B ongo Abinal, who said to be the niece of Executive Secretary Christopher Laurence Bongo, said Mayor Abinal “truly served the welfare and development of the communities.” She said the youth sector Former Mayor Muhammadali “Merkano” Abinal of Marantao, Lanao del Sur in a yellow shirt with black jacket. Left is submitting photo, Ms Cassey Bongo Abinal, representative of the youth sector, assured that former Mayor Abinal is not involved See youth, page 7
in illegal drugs. Photos supplied