TUCP to confront Noy on labor woes

MANILA, Philippines - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said it will present new and recurring, but unmet labor agenda on Tuesday during the labor groups' traditional Labor Day breakfast with President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday.

"It's a once-a-year privilege for labor leaders but there has been no working meeting between labor groups and President Aquino since he assumed office in 2010. He promised to meet us on a regular basis but there has been none of that since he made a promise," TUCP secretary general Gerard Seno said in a statement on Monday.

The breakfast meeting will be held in Malacanang’s Heroes Hall at 10 a.m.

TUCP President Victorino Balais and Seno were invited to attend along with 40 other labor leaders mostly from labor coalition Nagkaisa!.

"On top of the agenda is this so-called jobless growth. There has been a pronounced improvement in the economy but this growth does not translate to generate opportunities for employment nor it satisfies the underemployed," Seno said.

The National Economic Development Authority record showed that by the end of last year, the country registered a 6.6 percent Gross Domestic Product growth compared to 6.4 percent in Thailand, 6.2 percent in Indonesia, 5.6 percent in Malaysia, 5.0 percent in Vietnam, and 1.2 percent in Singapore.

Records from the National Statistics Office showed there are 2.89 million unemployed Filipinos in January 2013 and 2.76 million in October 2012.

The NSO's records also show that there are 7.934 million underemployed in January 2013, up by 916,000 since January 2012 (7.018 million) and 7.050 million in 2011.

Seno said that most of the labor issues emanate from core issues such as employment and job creation, contractualization, social protection, right to self organization and collective bargaining, wage increase, tripartism and social dialogue and labor dispute settlement.

He said there is also a need to review and consult the implementation of the two-tiered wage system now being implemented by labor department, clarify issues on taxes affecting minimum, and non-compliance in the implementation of the Wage Rationalization Act.