Protests, job fair mark Labour Day rites in Manila

MANILA: Protest rallies and a nationwide job fair on Sunday marked the observance of the Philippine participation in the global observance of Labour Day even as President Duterte assured that the government would continue to provide the vital opportunities for workers to achieve their full potential.

“This administration, even if it is coming to a close, still remains commited to providing the people with opportunities they need to reach their full potential,” Duterte said in a statement released by Malacanang Palace.

Duterte also paid tribute especially to overseas Filipino workers (OFWS) as he said thus: “Our people have been known for their great passion integrity and professionalism they demonstrate for everything they do.

“These qualities have not only brought economic gains to our country but have also been a source of immense pride among our people.”

Amid these motherhood statements from Duterte and other government officials, militant workers staged protest rallies in Metro Manila and other urban centers like Cebu City in the Visayas.

In particular, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) denounced the alleged failure of government to provide workers with just and fair wages as well as end “contractualisation.”

Julius Cainglet, an FFW official, protested that the prevailing minimum wages were “discriminatory” and not enough to provide the workers and their families to have decent meals.

He said they favored the proposal for an increase in nationwide daily wage of 750 pesos ($17) which, however, has been repeatedly rejected.

On the other hand, labour Secretary Silvestre Bello announced the holding of job fair sites across the country, including Metro Manila and other areas. He said a total of 141,487 for local and overseas vacancies are to filled in this job fair.

“This job fair,” Bello said, “is one of the employment recovery strategies to restart economic activities, restore consumer and business confidence, upgrade and retool the workforce and facilitate labour market access.”

Bello also announced the inauguration on Sunday the country’s first hospital for OFWS.