EDITORIAL – Improving the plight of workers --- The Philippine Star

The government is not expected to announce a nationwide wage increase as Labor Day is marked today. A populist initiative in the Senate to legislate a hefty wage increase nationwide has failed to gain traction at the House of Representatives, amid calls from all business groups to leave wage-setting to the regional tripartite wages and productivity boards – the mechanism provided by law. Days before Labor Day, President Marcos had extended the employment of job-order and contract of service or temporary workers in government, from the original expiration of Dec. 31 this year to the end of 2025. The President also ordered a review of the employment conditions of the JOs and COS – the public equivalent of so-called “endo” workers in the private sector. Employers and other business groups have stressed that the best way to improve the plight of the country’s workforce is to create the economic environment that will generate meaningful employment. Those jobs must provide a living wage if not for all, then at least for the majority, and must be attractive enough to make it unnecessary for Filipinos to seek greener pastures overseas. The country, however, continues to trail its neighbors in attracting or generating the economic activities that create such employment and livelihood opportunities. Through legislation, the economy has been opened up in many key areas, even without amending the Constitution, and tax and other incentives dangled to attract investments. Still, local and foreign investors alike continue to complain about hindrances that have persisted for many years now. These include voluminous red tape, inconsistent and uncoordinated national and local policies governing business, unpredictable and weak rule of law and regulatory environment, an inability to enforce contracts, corruption at all levels, inadequate infrastructure and, for manufacturers in particular, unreliable and expensive power supply. Organized labor will stage rallies today to press for higher wages. The government may announce non-wage benefits. The best and long-term gift to workers, however, is the creation of enough employment opportunities that provide decent pay.

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