Veloso’s plight takes center stage on Labor Day
PHILIPPINE labor groups will hold protests today, denouncing the lack of decent jobs, a condition that pushes workers — including Mary Jane F. Veloso who temporarily escaped execution in Indonesia — to leave the country for employment.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)-Nagkaisa faction will be staging rallies in the morning until 12 noon from España to Mendiola, minus their yearly meeting with President Benigno S. C. Aquino III to tackle labor issues.
On Monday, the group announced that it will no longer hold talks with the Executive — which they started in 2012 — after seeing no substantial progress on workers’ reform agenda, which include full employment, an across-the-board wage hike, and lower prices of goods and utilities.
“We no longer expect from PNoy. He still doesn’t get it,” TUCP- Nagkaisa Spokesperson Alan A. Tanjusay said in a text message, adding that the group expects 25,000 members to march on streets of Metro Manila, together with fellow members holding simultaneous protests in Cebu, Davao, General Santos City and Cavite, among other provinces.
For its part, militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said their group would renew their call for Mr. Aquino’s resignation on Friday, specifically in light of the Jan. 25 Mamasapano clash, pending efforts for Yolanda rehabilitation, and prevailing hunger and poverty.
“Filipino workers will call for measures for the creation of decent jobs, higher wages, the implementation of a National Minimum Wage in the amount of P16,000 monthly, and the banning of contractual employment,” KMU said in a statement.
The group will assemble at the Liwasang Bonifacio in the afternoon and move to Mendiola by 4 p.m. to burn an effigy of the President.
Central to this year’s mass actions will be the fate of Veloso, whose execution on Wednesday was deferred by Jakarta after her alleged recruiter — who helped tricked her into bringing illegal drugs to Indonesia — surrendered to Philippine authorities.
Veloso was handed a death sentence in 2010 after being found smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her suitcase.
However, eight other drug convicts were executed via firing squad that night.
“The case of Mary Jane epitomizes the fate of the Filipinos working here and working abroad,” Mr. Tanjusay said, calling for better assistance for migrant workers.
“Workers will condemn the lack of decent jobs in the country, the reason why Mary Jane Veloso and many Filipinos are being forced to work abroad and are being victimized by human trafficking syndicates,” the KMU added.
No road closures and traffic rerouting will be implemented for the May 1 rallies, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said, as light traffic is expected.
“It’s a holiday so we don’t expect people to be inconvenienced,” MMDA Chairman Francis N. Tolentino said in a phone interview.