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[av_heading heading=’Women’s labor pains’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Thursday, March 9, 2017
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IT WAS HEARTENING to hear President Duterte paying tribute to women for their contributions to the country’s development yesterday, the International Women’s Day. He also pledged to enhance gender equality in the country.
Perhaps the President can start by ending labor contractualization. There is no better proof that the government acknowledges the contribution of women in the economy, and that it respects the equal rights of women and men, than to end contractualization which erodes the basic rights at work.
According to the Social Weather Stations survey published in Feb. 25, 11.2 million workers – women and men – were jobless during the last quarter of 2016. President Duterte promised to create 7.5 million jobs in six years, during the start of his term. He also promised to end contractualization.
Just this Feb. 27, different representatives of labor centers held a dialogue with the President in Malacañang. He reiterated his position against contractualization. But what is happening now is contrary to what he said. There is no political will on the matter of ending job contractualization. There is only lip service from the government.
The President promised that beginning 2017, his administration will regularize half of the contractual employees in different government agencies including government-owned and controlled corporations. The first quarter of 2017 is about to end, but still no sign of changes.
Women are calling for regular work, the implementation of a decent minimum wage, and for the creation of long-term jobs for women workers. If the government cares about uplifting the condition of women workers and their families, it will focus on these.
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