Noy refuses to certify labor bill as urgent

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday announced that he will not certify the proposed Security of Tenure bill as urgent as it may violate pertinent laws, but promised to do more for the workers.

In his pre-Labor Day speech at Malacañang before businessmen and labor groups' representatives, Aquino also said that the proposed measure is against his administration's goal of creating more jobs.

"Tungkol sa mungkahing i-certify as urgent ang Security of Tenure Bill: Una po, labag po ito sa pagkakaintindi natin sa batas, dahil ang maaari ko lamang agad na sertipikahan ay ang mga panukalang tumutugon sa public calamity o kaya ay emergency," he said.

He added: "Pangalawa, taliwas ito sa agenda nating magdagdag ng trabaho, dahil habang may 1.8 milyong manggagawa ang makikinabang, mayroon namang tinatayang sampung milyong Pilipino ang mawawalan ng trabaho."

Aquino, however, said that he is open to amending the proposed measure to reach a win-win solution for both employers and workers.

The bill was introduced by Trade Union Congress of the Philippines party-list Rep. Democrito Mendoza. It seeks to amend certain provisions of the Labor Code.

"Bukas ang isip natin sa pag-amyenda ng panukala, dahil mulat tayo sa mabuting intensyon nito. Kaya naman inaapura na natin ang Tripartite Industrial Peace Council na pag-aralan ang tunay na sitwasyon at hikayatin ang ibang sektor na makilahok tungo sa solusyon nito," he said.

He said he also ordered the allocation of over P180 million to the labor department to hire additional labor law compliance officers to monitor companies and go after those who have been abusing the renewal of contracts of their workers.

"Inaasahan nating pagdating ng Oktubre, makakatulong na sila sa paghuli sa sinumang umaabuso sa ating mga batas paggawa," the President said.

Aquino said that he has already directed the Department of Justice to intensify efforts on labor-related cases.

Regarding increasing the tax exemptions on de minimis benefits or the minimal benefits provided by an employer, the President said it would be detrimental to the revenue collection efforts by the government which would in turn affect vital government infrastructure projects.

"Kapag ginawa natin ito, P2.74 billion ang mababawas sa kinakalap na buwis. Ang katumbas po nito: mahigit tatlong libong silid-aralan, o mahigit labing isang libong kabahayan. Makatwiran bang ilagay po natin sa alanganin ang edukasyon ng mga kabataan? Ipagkakait ba natin ang mga proyektong pabahay para sa mga maralita?," President Aquino said.

He also suggested that it is high time to amend the Social Security System Pension Scheme to minimize the unfunded liability of the SSS, which stood at P1.1 trillion in 2011.

"Isipin po ninyo: mula 1980, dalawampu’t isang beses nagkaroon ng across-the-board pension increase, pero ilang beses po bang tumaas ang contribution rate? Sa panahon pong iyon, dalawang beses lang po.

"Samakatuwid, hugot tayo nang hugot ng sobra-sobrang pera, subalit wala namang inilalagay sa bulsa. Bangkarote po ang bagsak natin, at iyan na nga mismo ang problema ng SSS," he noted.

The President also called on both employers and workers to treat the May 1 Labor Day celebration as Good Job Day instead, with less squabbles.

"Hindi po ba mas maganda kung, imbes na tratuhin ang Labor Day bilang araw ng alitan, ituring natin ito bilang selebrasyon—isang araw na masayang nagdiriwang ang mga manggagawa at mga negosyante dahil sa matagumpay at produktibong taon; isang araw na kinikilala natin ang sipag ng bawat empleyado, at kung gaano kalaking biyaya ang magkaroon ng isang trabahong marangal at bumubuhay sa pamilya mo?

"Mula ngayon, sana ay ituring natin ang Labor Day bilang Good Job Day. Marami tayong positibong nagawa, at nangyari ito, hindi dahil sa mga reklamo o pagbabatuhang-sisi, kundi dahil sa nagtulungan tayo. Tama na po sana ang negatibismo. Panahon na para batiin natin ang isa’t isa ng 'good job,'" the President said.

Nothing concrete

The TUCP, meanwhile, said that several labor groups were dismayed with the statements made by President Aquino during a breakfast meeting at the Palace.

TUCP spokesman Allan Tanjusay said labor group leaders and their representatives did not hear any concrete response from the President regarding job security and other issues plaguing the labor sector.

"We were not able to get a concrete response from the President with regards to issues raised by TUCP and other labor groups about the worsening problems of workers and their families," Tanjusay said in a statement.

He added that trade unions and labor groups were expecting "something to hold onto, something to begin with working on. But there was none."

"It was a golden opportunity for President Aquino to seize the moment to uphold the dignity of the Filipino workers and honor their contribution to the political development and economic progress of the country for the past year," Tanjusay said.

"He (President Aquino) also had the chance to issue policy directives that will create opportunities to uplift the lives of millions of working class to a new level. It was an opportunity to ignite trade unionists’ hope and workers’ aspirations for a decent work, a decent pay, and  decent lives. We don’t know how and where to begin and to express our dismay," he said.