PROBLEM LABOR

LABOR PROBLEMS Labor problems as viewed in Philippine social realities reveal a chain of causes and effects that are inextricably linked by economic, political and cultural factors. Only a comprehensive analysis of these problems can equip workers with the tools for mastering them. Thus the need to understand the structural, historical, and moral dimensions of labor problems. WHAT ARE THE COMMON PROBLEMS CONFRONTED BY WORKERS AT THEIR PLACE OF WORK? Low Wages In 1889, the Filipinos organized the first labor union to assert the right of workers to a just living wage. Today, after less than a century of struggle, social conditions remain unchecked. The wage rate in the Philippines is way behind those in other countries; in the United States, wage rate is seventeen times more than the wage rate in the Philippines; in developed countries, ten times more; and in les developed countries, four times more. It is not surprising to learn, therefore, of a survey conducted by the Union Bank of Switzerland placing the Filipino workers’ wage second to the lowest in the world. Poor Working Conditions Forced to suffer under poor working conditions in exchange for unemployment and eventual starvation, Filipino workers have long been deprived of the right to life and duty to work. Inadequate physical facilities and occupational safety measures exposure to hazardous chemicals, unreasonable work schedule, unjust compensation, inadequate leave benefits, limited, if not absence of opportunity for personal and professional growth, and unstable employment status – these are but a few of the unjust working conditions that burden Filipino workers. Inhumane Treatment Directly related to poor working conditions are oppressive practices inflicted on workers by employers who look down on labor as mere material instruments of capital accumulation. Inhumane practices of employers include failure to implement wages and compensations as prescribed by law, sexual harassments, physical abuses, illegal dismissals, and other problems emanating from poor working conditions. Absence of Job Security E:\New Raw Materials for the FFW Website\Resources\BCTUmodules\LABOR PROBLEMS.doc 1/9For BCTU Two conditions underscore the absence of job security in the Philippine work force. First is the escalating number of unemployed workers who command cheap wages for limited and small number of employment opportunities. Second is the advent of automation that displaced and replaced many workers because employers choose speed and accuracy in production rather than the creative efforts that shall flourish once labor is relieved from the drudgeries of work. Underemployment It is unfortunate to note that the government is unable to tap the ingenuity, craftsmanship, intellectual prowess, and industry of the Philippine labor force as vehicle of national development and economic recovery. NEDA statistics in 1987 showed underemployment population of 6.8 M workers representing 30.1% of the total labor force. Thousands of workers take fobs that neither utilize nor enhance their skills and academic training. College degree holders performing functions that used to be reserved for janitors, clerks, messengers, drivers, even domestic helpers are not an uncommon sight nowadays. Unorganized Labor Force The organized sector of the Philippine labor force is still a minority. Although the number of unionized workers is rising, it has not gone beyond 13% of the 22.6 M actual labor force. As a result, the trade union movement is still weak, with a fluctuating and unstable membership covering only a small percentage of the workforce. Discrimination Discrimination with respect to sex, age, beliefs, and race still exist in the areas of hiring, promotion, and compensation. The rate of unemployment of women is higher than of men. Quite a number of establishments refuse to hire women. Some deprive women of equal opportunities for career advancement. Age consideration is another discriminating factor. Although the Labor Code defines the legal age brackets for employment, many establishments still prefer employing workers who are neither too young not too old. Finally, the issue of racial discrimination has become a disturbing reality for Filipino overseas workers who are forced to take menial jobs as domestic helpers and laborers even if their educational attainment and experience prove that they are over-qualified for the work the take. WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS MET BY WORKERS IN RELATION TO TRADE UNIONS? Restrictive Laws E:\New Raw Materials for the FFW Website\Resources\BCTUmodules\LABOR PROBLEMS.doc 2