Forum tells workers why they were fired

CEBU, Philippines – As more employees are losing their jobs, two groups are making efforts to let the displaced workers understand the reasons for the global economic crisis and its effects.

The Bukluran ng Manggagagawang Pilipino-Cebu and the University of San Carlos Lex Circle, the schools’ Law student government, spearheaded a forum for displaced workers where the current economic problem was discussed.

Aaron Pedrosa, vice president of the Lex Circle and provincial president of Sanlakas said that they want to reach out to workers who probably do not fully understand the cause of the recession.

He said that it was conceptualized because of the trend they were seeing in the labor displacement here in Cebu. Pedrosa stated that through the activity, the workers could have a clearer idea of the problem, how it can be addressed and know what benefits are due to them.

As the government claimed that the economy is still doing good and is still in a positive percent, Pedrosa said that “statistics will paint the true picture”.

Pedrosa questioned the governments’ findings considering that in Cebu alone 6,800 workers from the furniture sector already lost their jobs.

“If that is not negative, then what is negative?” he added.

Pedrosa said that they are asking the government to abandon its anti-labor policies as a gift to the workers and not push through with efforts for Charter Change which he said is disadvantageous to the workers.

Sixty displaced workers who attended the forum were from different companies like NPK international, Casa Cebuana, Great Ideas, Cebu Rattan, Maitland Smith Cebu Inc., Hannstar Taiwan, Woodcraft, Anatolia Inc., Taiyu Yuden Inc., Keppel Cebu Shipyard and Lear Corporation.

USC Economics Professor Fernando Fajardo said that companies should not automatically retrench their workers despite the instability of their businesses.

He said it should be seen by the companies that in business it is “profit and loss” and they should be prepared for any possibility.

Department of Labor and Employment supervising labor and employment officer Maritess Mercado said that despite the retrenchment in especially export-oriented companies, there are those that are slowly recovering already.

But as for those who are already displaced, Mercado said that they are still helping out through trainings and livelihood programs which the workers can avail of.

Also, Mercado said that through their Quick Response Team, they are closely monitoring the companies who submit termination reports so workers will not be fired for uncalled-for purposes. — AJ de la Torre/BRP (THE FREEMAN)