VP Binay Suspended Pag-ibig Contributions of OFWs

Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chair Jejomar ‘Jojo’ Binay suspended the implementation of the order mandating the six-month advance contribution of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to the Home Development Mutual (Pag-ibig) Fund.

Vice Pres. Binay also ordered the Pag-ibig and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to conduct a thorough study and more consultations with the affected sectors. He said there is a need to review the legal basis and propriety of compelling OFWs to pay in advance the equivalent of a six-month contribution, or P600, as precondition to their departure.

“What is important is that government should assist our OFWs and should not be seen as further imposing burdens on them. Aside from reviewing the legal basis for the order, the concerned government agencies should hold more consultations with the affected sectors. There should be transparency in the process," he said.

"There are benefits to be derived from Pag-ibig membership and this should be explained fully to our OFWs," he added.

Pursuant to the order of Vice Pres. Binay, POEA issued a statement last August 16 stating that the POEA is set to meet with Pag-ibig officials immediately to conduct further studies and consultations on the issue and discuss a more facilitative mechanism to implement the coverage of workers under the Fund.

In the meantime, in accordance to Republic Act 9679 which makes PAG-IBIG membership compulsory to OFWs, all overseas workers can pay their contributions directly through any PAG-IBIG office nationwide. POEA also said that required insurance coverage for OFWs, as provided under Republic Act 10022, will be implemented only after the Insurance Commission issues its guidelines on the matter.

Last July 7, POEA issued Memorandum Circular No. 06, Series of 2010, mandating all out-bound OFWs to pay six-months' worth of PAG-IBIG membership contribution. The memorandum states that overseas workers will not be able to get their Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and leave the country unless they have paid the said amount.

When the memorandum was issued, it was immediately met with retaliation from various labor groups such as Migrante International, who called it as a “legalized kotong.”

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. VP Binay Orders Freezing Of Order Mandating Advance Pag-ibig Payment For OFWs. Retrieved August 31, 2010 from
http://www.hudcc.gov.ph/index.php?p=88&type=2&sec=29&aid=259

POEA News Release. POEA stops collection of Pag-ibig fees (Posted August 16, 2010) Retrieved August 31, 2010 from
http://www.poea.gov.ph/news/2010/PR_Aug2010_%20PAG-IBIG.pdf

Lee-Brago, Pia, The Philippine Star. Binay suspends Pag-ibig membership for OFWs (Posted August 13, 2010) Retrieved August 31, 2010 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=602177&publicationSubCategoryId=65

Migrante International. Mandatory contribution legalizes ‘kotong’ from OFWs (Posted August 7, 2010) Retrieved August 31, 2010 from
http://migranteinternational.org/?p=769

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS The 2nd Jobs Search at the Starmall by Island Exhibit WHEN: September 17-18, 2010 WHERE: 2F Trade Hall, Starmall, EDSA-Shaw

JOB ADS Fortworth, Inc. PCMed Inc. - Secretary - Field Computer Technicians - Company Driver / Messenger - Human Resource Development Officer TECHNOKids Philippines - Elementary & High School I.T. Instructors - Instructional Designer - Content Writer Global Water Engineering Corporation - Administrative Assistant Justino Corporation - Accounting Staff - Warehouse Stock Personnel R. Lapid's Chicharon & Barbecue - Service Crew Rider (Motorcycle) - Human Resource Head - Maintenance - Area Supervisor (Mandaue Cebu Area) - Accounting Staff - Marketing Assistant - Quality Assurance Assistant - Property Custodian - Ref/Acu Technician - Driver - Service Crew - Production Worker Hansson Paper Phils. Corp. - Accounting Staff Trabaho Client #245 - Accounting Staff - Sales Engineer British Embassy Manila - Trade and Investment Manager MORE JOB ADS...

Thousands of Construction Workers Needed in Guam, CNMI – DOLE

Thousands of overseas workers will be needed in Guam once the construction of a Naval Hospital worth US$700 million starts by the first quarter of 2011.

Citing a report from Saipan-based Labor Attaché Carmelina Velasquez, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said construction for the military facilities build up will be until 2020. Every year, a project worth about a billion US dollars will be awarded to a construction firm, requiring around 7,000 to 10,000 construction workers.

A Filipino contractor in Guam informed the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the area that 50% of the required manpower can be sourced out from the Philippines because of its workers’ experience and track record of performance.

Labor Attachè Velasquez, in her report, said that considering Guam cannot accommodate all trainings for the relocation, the US military is looking at the island of Tinian in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) to provide opportunities for training groups of 200 marines or more due to greater land availability.

Velasquez said the proposed military training on Tinian includes firing ranges for long distance rifle, automated pistol combat, platoon battle course, field training, and airspace use. She added that should this project push through, there will also be employment opportunities for Filipino workers in CNMI.

The Labor Attaché said project biddings and awarding for the military facility construction are scheduled this year, although data on manpower requirements are not yet available as of press time.

In this light, the Philippine Embassy in Guam, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), reiterated the "no recruitment fee" policy of the United States for foreign workers falling under the H2-B visa classification. The H2-B visa is a 10-month visa for short-term or seasonal workers in non-agricultural positions, such as in construction, cleaning, hotel, restaurant and landscape.

Philippine Consul General Bayani S. Mercado met with U.S. State Department Acting Fraud Prevention Manager Clay Allen to discuss joint measures to inform the general public about the U.S.' no recruitment policy' for the said working visa. This was in response to reports that many overseas Filipino workers paid manpower agencies substantial amounts for placement or recruitment fees.

In a separate statement, the POEA stressed that they have adopted a policy that prohibits charging of placement fees from those applying for jobs in countries that do not allow such fees since 2001. Aside from the U.S., other countries that prohibit this include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel, some parts of Canada (like Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Seskatchewan), and the Netherlands.

POEA Administrator Jennifer Jardin-Manalili urged jobseekers to report recruitment agencies that charge such unnecessary fees and to contact POEA for any developments on the Guam labor market.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
DOLE Information and Publications Office. DOLE: A thousand jobs up in Guam, CNMI (Posted August 16, 2010) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/secondpage.php?id=1303

Abella, Jerrie, GMANews.TV. US: ‘No recruitment fee’ for Guam-bound OFWs
(Posted August 21, 2010) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/199052/us-no-recruitment-fee-for-guam-bound-ofws

Department of Foreign Affairs Public Information Service Unit. US-bound Filipinos Warned Against Unscrupulous Labor Recruiters (Posted August 20, 2010) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/news-from-rp-embassies/1767-us-bound-filipinos-warned-against-unscrupulous-labor-recruiters

POEA News Release. Charging of placement fees to Guam-bound workers illegal (Posted August 20, 2010) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://www.poea.gov.ph/news/2010/PR_Augl2010_guam_saj.pdf

INQUIRER.net. 1,000 construction jobs up in Guam, CNMI—labor dept (Posted August 17, 2010) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100817-287272/1000-construction-jobs-up-in-Guam-CNMIlabor-dept

Abella, Jerrie, GMANews.TV. Construction jobs up for grabs in Guam, CNMI (Posted August 16, 2010) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/198681/construction-jobs-up-for-grabs-in-guam-cnmi

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS The 3rd Get A Job Trinoma Jobs Fair by Island Exhibit WHEN: August 25-26, 2010 WHERE: Trinoma Activity Center, Trinoma Mall 13th Metro Job Fair by Adexhibit WHEN: August 26-28, 2010 WHERE: SM Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

JOB ADS Fortworth, Inc. PCMed Inc. - Field Computer Technicians - Company Driver / Messenger TECHNOKids Philippines - Elementary & High School I.T. Instructors Justino Corporation - Accounting Staff - Warehouse Stock Personnel R. Lapid's Chicharon & Barbecue - Service Crew Rider (Motorcycle) - Human Resource Head - Maintenance - Area Supervisor (Mandaue Cebu Area) - Accounting Staff - Marketing Assistant - Quality Assurance Assistant - Property Custodian - Ref/Acu Technician - Driver - Service Crew - Production Worker Hansson Paper Phils. Corp. - Accounting Staff Trabaho Client #245 - Accounting Staff - Sales Engineer British Embassy Manila - Trade and Investment Manager MORE JOB ADS...

August 30 Still a Non-Working Holiday

Filipinos will still be able to enjoy a long weekend this month as Malacañang declared August 30 a regular non-working holiday in celebration of National Heroes' Day.

During a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that since National Heroes' Day falls on August 30, they will abide by Presidential Proclamation No. 1841 issued by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on July 21, 2009 which declared it as a holiday. “It falls on a Monday so it's not going to be moved so you're going to have a long weekend," Lacierda said.

Recently, the Palace repealed Proc. No. 1841 and observed Ninoy Aquino Day on its original date, August 21, declaring August 23 as a regular working day. Lacierda advised the public that they will now be dealing with holiday declarations “on a case-to-case basis.” Furthermore, he clarified that Malacañang is not trying to repeal Republic Act 9492, popularly know as Holiday Economics Law, but is simply exercising the provisions of the law that the president can modify or change a holiday either by law, order or proclamation.

“We are looking at making ourselves more productive. The idea is if the first day of the week is a holiday, it diminishes productivity for the rest of the week,” Lacierda said.

Since it is a regular holiday, employees who will work on Monday will receive 200% basic daily wage for the first eight hours, plus 30% of the per-hour rate for the succeeding hours counted as overtime.

For those whose rest day/day-off falls on Monday, they are entitled to receive an additional 30% of 200% of their daily wage plus another 30% of the per-hour rate for overtime if they decide to come to work.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
Philippine Information Agency. Two holidays up in August (Posted August 20, 2010) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p100820.htm&no=95

Kabiling, Genalyn, Manila Bulletin. August 30 a regular holiday – Malacañang (Posted August 13, 2010) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://www3.mb.com.ph/node/272119/augu

Roa, Ana Mae, BusinessWorld. Malacañang keeps August 30 holiday (Posted August 13, 2010) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=15871

Department of Labor and Employment. Memorandum Circular No. 1 (Posted March 8, 2004) Retrieved August 23, 2010 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/list_of_holidays.php?id=95

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS The 3rd Get A Job Trinoma Jobs Fair by Island Exhibit WHEN: August 25-26, 2010 WHERE: Trinoma Activity Center, Trinoma Mall 13th Metro Job Fair by Adexhibit WHEN: August 26-28, 2010 WHERE: SM Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

JOB ADS Fortworth, Inc. PCMed Inc. - Field Computer Technicians - Company Driver / Messenger TECHNOKids Philippines - Elementary & High School I.T. Instructors Justino Corporation - Accounting Staff - Warehouse Stock Personnel R. Lapid's Chicharon & Barbecue - Human Resource Head - Maintenance - Area Supervisor (Mandaue Cebu Area) - Accounting Staff - Marketing Assistant - Quality Assurance Assistant - Property Custodian - Ref/Acu Technician - Driver - Service Crew - Production Worker Hansson Paper Phils. Corp. - Accounting Staff Trabaho Client #245 - Accounting Staff - Sales Engineer British Embassy Manila - Trade and Investment Manager MORE JOB ADS...

Central Visayas Workers to Receive P18 Wage Hike

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Region 7 increased the daily minimum wage rate in Central Visayas by P18.00, effective this September.

According to RTWPB Region 7 Chairman and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Director Elias Cayanong, the decision of the Board was based on cost of living and basic services, fuel, and inflation rate, among others. In addition, the Board agreed to implement a uniform increase on all wage classes in the region.

However, some 100 exporters listed under the Department of Trade and Industry and the Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation (Philexport) Cebu have been given a six-month exemption because they have forecasted their cost for this year and are still recovering from the effects of the global financial crisis.

Cebu Furniture Industry Foundation President Angela Paulin said that they are grateful to the RTWPB for granting them an extension, but believes that the industry cannot fully recover in such a short span of time. On the other hand, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) expressed its support in the decision of the local wage board. However, CCCI President Sammy Chioson said that it be better to implement the wage increase next year.

Dir. Ferdinand Jumapao of the Associated Labor Unions Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) - Membership Recruitment and Services Department added that though P18 is not enough, it can help workers pay for their fare and food.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
Napallacan, Jhunnex, Inquirer Visayas. C. Visayas workers get P18-wage hike (Posted August 15, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100815-287026/C-Visayas-workers-get-P18-wage-hike

Garcia-Yap, Aileen, Cebu Daily News. New wage hike worries Cebu furniture makers (Posted August 15, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20100815-286886/New_wage_hike_worries_Cebu_furniture_makers

Pareja, Jessica Ann, The Freeman. For September implementation: Central Visayas workers get P18 wage hike (Posted August 13, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=602271&publicationSubCategoryId=107

Mosqueda, Mars, Jr., Manila Bulletin. Wage board grants P18 hike in daily wage of CV workers (Posted August 13, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://www.mb.com.ph/node/272194

Baquero, Elias, Sun.Star Cebu. Wages in Central Visayas up by P18 (Posted August 13, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/wages-central-visayas-p18

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS The 3rd Get A Job Trinoma Jobs Fair by Island Exhibit WHEN: August 25-26, 2010 WHERE: Trinoma Activity Center, Trinoma Mall 13th Metro Job Fair by Adexhibit WHEN: August 26-28, 2010 WHERE: SM Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

JOB ADS Fortworth, Inc. PCMed Inc. - Field Computer Technicians - Company Driver / Messenger TECHNOKids Philippines - Elementary & High School I.T. Instructors Justino Corporation - Accounting Staff - Warehouse Stock Personnel R. Lapid's Chicharon & Barbecue - Human Resource Head - Maintenance - Area Supervisor (Mandaue Cebu Area) - Accounting Staff - Marketing Assistant - Quality Assurance Assistant - Property Custodian - Ref/Acu Technician - Driver - Service Crew - Production Worker Hansson Paper Phils. Corp. - Accounting Staff Trabaho Client #245 - Accounting Staff - Sales Engineer British Embassy Manila - Trade and Investment Manager MORE JOB ADS...

Malacañang Declared August 23 as Regular Working Day

Contrary to earlier statements and reports, Malacañang formally said that Ninoy Aquino Day will be observed on August 21 and declared August 23 as a regular working day.

Citing Presidential Proclamation No. 13 issued last Wednesday, President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III declared that Ninoy Aquino Day will be observed as a nationwide special non-working holiday on Saturday instead of August 23.

As stated in the proclamation, “observing Ninoy Aquino Day on August 21 instead of August 23 will avoid the imposition of unnecessary financial burden upon the employers, ensure the continuity of government, business and commercial transactions, promote productivity, while at the same time preserve the solemnity of the observance.”

Proclamation No. 13 formally modified Presidential Proclamation No. 1841 issued by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on July 21, 2009 which stated that the death anniversary of the late Sen. Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino, Jr. would be celebrated this year on August 23.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that some Cabinet Secretaries wanted to maintain the earlier declaration while others do not. But in the end, President Aquino ruled that Monday will be a regular working day. Lacierda, however, stressed that the President did not make the decision based on his personal sensitivities to the said holiday, which is the death anniversary of his father, but to strike a balance between the needs of both employers and workers.

Furthermore, Lacierda said that Republic Act 9492 gives the President authority to modify the declaration of holidays by law, order or proclamation. Thus, Malacañang will deal with it on a case-to-case basis.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
Presidential Communications Operations Office. Proc. No. 13: Declaring the Observance of Ninoy Aquino Day on 21 August 2010 as a Nationwide Special (Non-Working) Holiday (in PDF format) (Posted August 11, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://www.ops.gov.ph/issuances/issuances-proc/PROC%20No.%2011.pdf

Beltran, JILL, Sun.Star Network Online. Aquino to adjust more holidays (Posted August 12, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/aquino-adjust-more-holidays-301-pm

Porcalla, Delon, The Philippine Star. Palace: August 23 not a holiday. (Posted August 12, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=601937&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Sisante, Jam, GMANews.TV. Aug. 23 declared regular working day (Posted August 11, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/198331/aug-21-declared-as-non-working-holiday

Gonzalez, Mia, BusinessMirror. August 23 not a holiday, P-Noy rules (Posted August 11, 2010) Retrieved August 16, 2010 from
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=23:topnews&id=28796:august-23-not-a-holiday-p-noy-rules&Itemid=58

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS The 3rd Get A Job Trinoma Jobs Fair by Island Exhibit WHEN: August 25-26, 2010 WHERE: Trinoma Activity Center, Trinoma Mall 13th Metro Job Fair by Adexhibit WHEN: August 26-28, 2010 WHERE: SM Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

JOB ADS Fortworth, Inc. PCMed Inc. - Field Computer Technicians - Company Driver / Messenger TECHNOKids Philippines - Elementary & High School I.T. Instructors Justino Corporation - Accounting Staff - Warehouse Stock Personnel R. Lapid's Chicharon & Barbecue - Human Resource Head - Maintenance - Area Supervisor (Mandaue Cebu Area) - Accounting Staff - Marketing Assistant - Quality Assurance Assistant - Property Custodian - Ref/Acu Technician - Driver - Service Crew - Production Worker Hansson Paper Phils. Corp. - Accounting Staff Trabaho Client #245 - Accounting Staff - Sales Engineer British Embassy Manila - Trade and Investment Manager MORE JOB ADS...

DOLE Released Breakthrough Study to Help Solve Local Unemployment

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has released a breakthrough and pioneering study called “Project Jobs Fit” that identifies the skills needed by its industries for the next 10 years. This will be relevant to the country’s efforts to mitigate local unemployment.

In a press release, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that the government is now looking forward by initiating concrete measures to pursue the objectives of the study, and setting the appropriate foundation towards a job-friendly economy. The country's economy would be equipped with the capacity to mitigate brain drain and the mismatch of the available jobs in industry as well as the skills of the labor force.

Sec. Baldoz noted that the voluminous Project Jobs Fit has essentially pinpointed the Philippines’ key employment generators (KEGS) - or those sectors identified as “having the potential for absorbing the greatest number of the Philippine workforce” in the next 10 years.

These are the following sectors: agribusiness, cyber-services, health and wellness, hotel, restaurant and tourism, mining, construction, banking and finance, manufacturing, ownership dwellings and real estate, transport and logistics, wholesale and retail trade. The study also identified the need to support the four emerging industries expected to reinforce employment opportunities in the next 10 years, namely creative industries, diversified/strategic farming and fishing, power and utilities, and renewable energy. The DOLE study likewise identified some 108 in-demand, hard-to-fill occupations across all of the economy’s key employment generators and emerging industries until 2020.

“We will now need to build systematically the environment necessary to cultivate workers’ skills and employability in approaching these hard-to fill jobs and ensuring the growth of our main employment generators now and in the future,” said Sec. Baldoz.

DOLE Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) Director Maria Criselda R. Sy, who headed the multi-agency team that accomplished Project Jobs Fit, expressed her hopes that Project Jobs Fit would be utilized as a framework for action of the government, industry and academe to improve the plight of our workers, offering it as a “labor market signaling activity [that] could provide vital information for the succeeding administration to have a grip on the country’s unemployment concerns and job-skill mismatch.”

The full report(http://ble.dole.gov.ph/pjf/FinalReport.pdf) and list of in-demand and hard-to-fill occupations (http://ble.dole.gov.ph/pjf/List.pdf) are available at the BLE Website.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
DOLE Information and Publication Office. Project JobsFit identifies needed skills; seeks to mitigate brain drain, job-skills mismatch in RP (Posted August 7, 2010) Retrieved August 9, 2010 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/secondpage.php?id=1294
Reposted by Postive News Media at
http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Main_News_1/Project_Jobs_Fit_identifies_needed_skills_seeks_to_mitigate_brain_drain_job-skills_mismatch_in_RP_printer.shtml

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS Job Fair At Robinsons Supermarket Pulilan by FisherFarms Incorporated WHEN:August 13, 2010 WHERE:Robinsons Supermarket, Pulilan, Bulacan The 3rd Get A Job Trinoma Jobs Fair by Island Exhibit WHEN: August 25-26, 2010 WHERE: Trinoma Activity Center, Trinoma Mall 13th Metro Job Fair by Adexhibit WHEN: August 26-28, 2010 WHERE: SM Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

JOB ADS Fortworth, Inc. PCMed Inc. - Field Computer Technicians - Company Driver / Messenger TECHNOKids Philippines - Elementary & High School I.T. Instructors Hansson Paper Phils. Corp. - Accounting Staff Trabaho Client #245 - Accounting Staff - Sales Engineer JRadiance Corporation - Sales Coordinator - Sales Ladies/Promodizer NCH Philippines - Service Technician - Accountant Consultant MORE JOB ADS...

PNoy Respects Law on August 23 Holiday

President Benigno Simeon 'Noynoy' Aquino III respects the Holiday Economics Law which declares Monday, August 23, as a special non-working holiday in observance of Ninoy Aquino Day.

According to Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, the current administration will honor and abide by Republic Act 9492, known as the Holiday Economics Law. The said law, introduced by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2007, states that holidays that fall on a weekend, except those with religious significance, be moved to the nearest Monday.

The death anniversary of the President's father, Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., is officially celebrated on August 21 and falls on a Saturday this year. Following the law, the said holiday will be observed the following Monday, August 23. In addition, Proclamation 1841, signed on July 21, 2009 by former President Arroyo declared Monday a special non-working holiday.

In recent reports, Lacierda said that President Aquino was not inclined to declare it as a holiday, being sensitive when it comes to celebrations involving his deceased parents. “As far as possible, President Aquino does not want to highlight the death anniversary or any anniversary of his parents just because of his position," said Lacierda.

In a media forum last August 6, President Aquino himself said he was uncomfortable with the idea of declaring a special non-working holiday which commemorates the death of his father. However, he said he would still consider it given that it is part of the holiday economics policy of former President Arroyo.

August 23 is incidentally also the anniversary of the Cry of Pugad Lawin..

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
Yamsuan, Cathy, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Aquino can’t decide on holiday honoring pa (Posted August 9, 2010) Retrieved August 9, 2010 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100809-285740/Aquino-cant-decide-on-holiday-honoring-pa

Philippine Information Agency. Malacanang to respect holiday economics law (Posted August 8, 2010) Retrieved August 9, 2010 from
http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p100808.htm&no=02

Yamsuan, Cathy, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Palace mulls applying holiday economics on Ninoy’s death anniversary (Posted August 8, 2010) Retrieved August 9, 2010 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100808-285633/Palace-mulls-applying-holiday-economics-on-Ninoys-death-anniversary

GMANews.TV. Spokesman: Palace to respect Arroyo’s holiday economics (Posted August 7, 2010) Retrieved August 9, 2010 from
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/198019/spokesman-palace-to-respect-arroyos-holiday-economics

Montano, Efren, Journal Online. August 23 non-working holiday (Posted August 7, 2010) Retrieved August 9, 2010 from
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/15592-august-23-non-working-holiday.html

Office of the Press Secretary. Palace to maintain Holiday Economics law (Posted August 6, 2010) Retrieved August 9, 2010 from
http://www.ops.gov.ph/archives2010/aug06.htm#Palace%20to%20maintain

Bedico, Tess, Journal Online. Unlike Gloria, Noynoy won’t move holiday (Posted August 6, 2010) Retrieved August 9, 2010 from
http://journal.com.ph/index.php/national/15561-unlike-gloria-noynoy-wont-move-holiday-.html

abs-cbnNews.com. Aquino mulls holiday on August 23 (Posted August 6, 2010) Retrieved August 9, 2010 from
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/06/10/aquino-mulls-holiday-august-23

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS Job Fair At Robinsons Supermarket Pulilan by FisherFarms Incorporated WHEN:August 13, 2010 WHERE:Robinsons Supermarket, Pulilan, Bulacan The 3rd Get A Job Trinoma Jobs Fair by Island Exhibit WHEN: August 25-26, 2010 WHERE: Trinoma Activity Center, Trinoma Mall 13th Metro Job Fair by Adexhibit WHEN: August 26-28, 2010 WHERE: SM Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

JOB ADS Fortworth, Inc. PCMed Inc. - Field Computer Technicians - Company Driver / Messenger TECHNOKids Philippines - Elementary & High School I.T. Instructors Hansson Paper Phils. Corp. - Accounting Staff Trabaho Client #245 - Accounting Staff - Sales Engineer JRadiance Corporation - Sales Coordinator - Sales Ladies/Promodizer NCH Philippines - Service Technician - Accountant Consultant MORE JOB ADS...

Western Visayas, Davao, and Northern Mindanao Board Approved Wage Increase Petitions

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) of Western Visayas, Davao, and Northern Mindanao have approved the petition for increase in the minimum wage for their respective regions.

RTWPB Region 6 nodded an additional P15.00 per day increase in the region's minimum wage, setting the new minimum wage in the region at P265.00 per day for non-agricultural establishments employing more than 10 workers; P223.00 for non-agricultural establishments employing 10 workers or less; P233.00 for workers in the agricultural plantation sector; and P223 for workers in the agriculture–non plantation sector.

On the other hand, the Davao board added P21.00 per day to the current minimum wage, raising it to P271.00 per day plus P15.00 cost of living allowance (COLA) for non-agricultural workers, and P261.00 plus P15.00 COLA for agriculture, retail and service industry workers.

The Northern Mindanao RTWPB granted an additional P25.00 to the current P12.00 COLA implemented in the region. However, the adjustment will be divided in two phases: P12.00 will be added on August 16 and the rest, on October 1.

The current increase in the minimum wage rate in their respective areas have garnered different reactions from various sectors. Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Roberto Montelibano said that they will comply with the new wage order but warned that many small-and medium-scale businesses may seek exemption, decrease work day, or worse, layoff workers just to survive. Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. President Robert Quinto understands the situation of the workers and appealed that the labor sector understand their side as well. Employers Confederation of the Philippines President Edgardo Lacson called for a suspension of any wage increase this year, citing that companies are still trying to recover from the global economic downturn. Furthermore, Mr. Lacson said that the government should focus on job generation instead of increasing the minimum wage, which only benefits a few.

On the other hand, RTWPB Region 6 labor representative Wennie Sancho said that the increase was not enough. Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)-Panay chapter coordinator Wennie Dublezo called the increase as “pittance” and just enough for a round trip jeepney fare of P14.00. In a press statement, KMU chairperson Elmer Labog said “President [Benigno] Noynoy Aquino said Filipinos can dream again. But how could workers dream again with P15 and P21?” Partido ng Manggagawa Chairperson Renato Magtubo, said workers would continue to suffer not only from low wages but also the refusal of many employers to pay the declared minimum wage.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
Osorio, Elisa, The Philippine Star. ECOP wants wage hike moratorium (Posted August 2, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=598918&publicationSubCategoryId=63

Dumas, L.G., BusinessWorld. Northern Mindanao minimum wage up by P25 (Posted July 30, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://www.bworld.com.ph/main/content.php?id=15076

Gomez, Carla, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Companies to pay P15 wage increase, but... (Posted July 29, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100729-283870/Companies-to-pay-P15-wage-increase-but

Fiel, Tito, Judy Quiros, Orlando Dinoy and Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao. Mindanao workers to get P26 increase in daily wage (Posted July 29, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100729-283812/Mindanao-workers-to-get-P26-increase-in-daily-wage

Kilusang Mayo Uno. Aquino continues Arroyo’s wage policy with measly hikes in S. Mindanao, W. Visayas(Posted July 28, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://www.kilusangmayouno.org/news/2010/07/aquino-continues-arroyo%E2%80%99s-wage-policy-measly-hikes-s-mindanao-w-visayas

Maliza, Loui, Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. P13 wage hike to be implemented (Posted July 28, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/p13-wage-hike-be-implemented

Zaldivar, Jade, Sun.Star Davao. P21 wage hike in Davao approved (Posted July 24, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/p21-wage-hike-davao-approved

DOLE Information and Publication Wage board raises Region 6 minimum wage by P15 (Posted July 26, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/secondpage.php?id=1264

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS Job World Job Fair Roadshow by Neotrade Enterprises WHEN:August 16-22, 2010 WHERE: Activity Area, Farmers Plaza, Araneta Center, Cubao The 3rd Get A Job Trinoma Jobs Fair by Island Exhibit WHEN: August 25-26, 2010 WHERE: Trinoma Activity Center, Trinoma Mall 13th Metro Job Fair by Adexhibit WHEN: August 26-28, 2010 WHERE: SM Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

JOB ADS Fortworth, Inc. PCMed Inc. - Field Computer Technicians - Company Driver / Messenger TECHNOKids Philippines - Elementary & High School I.T. Instructors Hansson Paper Phils. Corp. - Accounting Staff Trabaho Client #245 - Accounting Staff - Sales Engineer JRadiance Corporation - Sales Coordinator - Sales Ladies/Promodizer NCH Philippines - Service Technician - Accountant Consultant MORE JOB ADS...

Filipinos Warned Against Blue-Collar Job Offer in China

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing issued a warning against recruiters offering blue-collar jobs in China.

"The Chinese labor market is not yet open for blue-collar Filipino and other foreign workers, thus, offers from recruitment agencies to work in the country as blue-collar workers can be considered human trafficking," Consul General Maria Teresa Almojuela said in a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affair.

The illegal and unauthorized entry of overseas Filipino workers in China will contribute to the growing number of undocumented workers in China, majority of which are from neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

In a news item from Beijing daily newspaper Global Times, illegal aliens from neighboring countries stream into the country daily, hoping to find better paying jobs. After becoming familiar with life in China, they encourage their friends and relatives to follow them.

Based on the report on the influx of undocumented workers in China, majority of these workers are found in the East China region and come from South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:
DFA Public Information Service. RP Embassy In China Warns Against Recruiters Getting Blue-Collar Workers (Posted July 21, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://www.dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/public-advisory/1625-rp-embassy-in-china-warns-against-recruiters-getting-blue-collar-workers

del Callar, Michaela, The Daily Tribune. OFWs warned vs recruiters for China blue-collar jobs (Posted July 22, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20100722nat5.html

Naval, Gerard, Malaya. Pinoys warned: No blue collar jobs in China (Posted July 22, 2010) Retrieved August 2, 2010 from
http://www.malaya.com.ph/07222010/news7.html

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS Job World Job Fair Roadshow by Neotrade Enterprises WHEN:August 16-22, 2010 WHERE: Activity Area, Farmers Plaza, Araneta Center, Cubao The 3rd Get A Job Trinoma Jobs Fair by Island Exhibit WHEN: August 25-26, 2010 WHERE: Trinoma Activity Center, Trinoma Mall 13th Metro Job Fair by Adexhibit WHEN: August 26-28, 2010 WHERE: SM Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City

JOB ADS Fortworth, Inc. PCMed Inc. - Field Computer Technicians - Company Driver / Messenger TECHNOKids Philippines - Elementary & High School I.T. Instructors Hansson Paper Phils. Corp. - Accounting Staff Trabaho Client #245 - Accounting Staff - Sales Engineer JRadiance Corporation - Sales Coordinator - Sales Ladies/Promodizer NCH Philippines - Service Technician - Accountant Consultant MORE JOB ADS...