Petition for Wage Increase Studied by Labor Department

The petition for wage increase is now being studied by the Department of Labor and Employment.

DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque said that the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and the 17 Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) are reviewing the petition for wage increase by Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) to determine whether it can withstand business conditions viability and the purchasing power of present wages.

The petition filed by TUCP requests for a P75.00 across-the-board wage increase for workers in NCR and Mindanao and P100.00 for Visayas.

The current daily minimum wage in the country’s capital is P382. In Metro Cebu, minimum wage is at P267.00 while in Davao region, it’s at P265.00. The last wage hike was approved 2 years ago in June 2008.

According to TUCP Rep. Raymond Mendoza, approval of the proposed wage increase “is urgent in the midst of skyrocketing prices of basic goods and services” as well possible increase in power and water charges and oil price hike. “If wages will remain stagnant, then more workers will certainly slide to poverty and those who are in the middle class will become the newly poor” Mendoza explained.

In the midst of the issue, Sec. Roque stressed that it is critical that minimum wage determination strikes a balance between providing a decent standard of living for workers and ensuring the capacity of the economy to absorb the wage adjustments and viability of business, especially small and medium enterprises.

He also said that the decision for a wage adjustment will depend on the Regional Boards’ assessment of the economic needs of the workers, the capacity of the employers to pay a wage increase, and the development requirements of the region. The Labor Secretary explained that while the policy of minimum wage fixing is to protect the purchasing power of low-income workers, it is also aimed at preserving existing jobs.

The petition of TUCP has garnered mixed reaction from the business sector and other labor unions.

Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) President Sergio Luiz Ortiz said that the increase will only benefit 16 percent of the working population any may even lead to retrenchment. Meanwhile, the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Industries (COCI) recognize the dilemma of the laborers but wage adjustments must be carefully studied to “strike a good balance between labor and the sustainability of business”.

The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) on the other hand asks the government that instead of doing a wage increase, the government should focus on improving job competitiveness and skills training to give workers and jobseekers more options. Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) stressed that the P75.00 across-the-board is not enough and the Filipino workers need a P125.00 increase.

Trabaho.com thanks its following sources:
TUCP Press Release. TUCP: P75 wage increase for workers in NCR (Posted March 1, 2010) Retrieved March 8, 2010 from
http://www.tucp.org.ph/news/index.php/2010/03/tucp-p75-wage-increase-for-workers-in-ncr

Kilusang Mayo Uno Press Release. TUCP-DOLE media blitz on wage hike petition a predictable charade – KMU (Posted March 4, 2010) Retrieved March 8, 2010 from
http://www.kilusangmayouno.org/news/2010/03/tucp-dole-media-blitz-wage-hike-petition-predictable-charade-%E2%80%93-kmu

Osorio, Ma. Elisa (with Helen Flores), The Philippine Star. Employers buck P75 wage hike (Posted March 3, 2010) Retrieved March 8, 2010 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=554486&publicationSubCategoryId=63

DOLE Information and Publication Office. Wage boards studying wage situation. (Posted March 2, 2010) Retrieved March 8, 2010 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/secondpage.php?id=1143

Sollano, Jose, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, The Freeman. TUCP seeking P100 wage hike (Posted March 07, 2010) Retrieved March 8, 2010 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=555745&publicationSubCategoryId=107

Salaverria, Leila, Philippine Daily Inquirer. P75 pay hike for Metro workers urged (Posted March 1, 2010) Retrieved March 8, 2010 from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20100301-256120/P75-pay-hike-for-Metro-workers-urged

Mosqueda, Mars Jr., Manila Bulletin. P100 wage hike asked for Central Visayas workers (Posted March 7, 2010) Retrieved March 8, 2010 from
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/246651/p100-wage-hike-asked-central-visayas-workers

Betonio, Terry, Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. Biz group to study wage hike proposal (Posted March 6, 2010) Retrieved March 8, 2010 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/biz-group-study-wage-hike-proposal

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS 13th Retail Careers , IT & Services Jobs Fair by Island Exhibit Link WHEN:April 12-13, 2010 WHERE:Trinoma Activity Center, EDSA, Quezon City Angat Pinoy! A Viva Events Job Fair by Viva Events Organizer WHEN:April 13-14, 2010 WHERE:Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyon City

JOB ADS Cagayan II Electric Cooperative, Inc. - Chief, Corporate Planning/Information Technology - Registered Electrical Engineer - Head, Member Services And Media Relations Section - OGM/Board Secretary - Legal Researcher - Chief Mechanic Quali-Centrum Human Resources - Marketing Assistants / Telemarketers - HR Assistants / Officers - Accounting Assistants / Clerks - Receptionist - Money Sorters (60) - General Clerks / Filing Clerks (200) - Sales Clerk / Sales Staff (50) - Food Server / Waiter (150) - Kitchen Helper / Cook - Electrician (20) - Drivers Palau National Communications Corporation (PNCC) - Data Base Administrator I R Lapid's Chicharon & Barbecue - Human Resource Head - Human Resource Assistant - Financial Analyst - Plant Engineer - Area Supervisor (Metro Manila South Area) - Area Supervisor (Cebu City Area) - Bookkeeper - Marketing Assistant - Quality Assurance Assistant - Property Custodian - Driver - Service Crew - Production Worker - Hotel And Restaurant Supervisor (For Calamba, Laguna) - Janitor (For Calamba, Laguna) Trabaho Client 245 - Senior Engineers Daekyo Philippines - Marketing Assistant - English Instructor for Center Justino Corporation - Internal Inventory Auditor - Warehouse Stock Personnel JRadiance Corporation - Sales Ladies/Promodizer - Licensed Pharmacist FX Sagot, Inc. - Sales Consultant Datascope Communications (Phils.), Inc. - Data Encoder Associates (100) - Systems Administrators - HR Associates MORE JOB ADS...

Companies to Hire More Workers Next Quarter – Survey

More and more companies have expressed intention to expand their workforce as these companies recover from the global financial crisis. This is the result of the recent Business Expectancy Survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas http://www.bsp.gov.ph/ for the first quarter of 2010.

Based on the BES conducted from January 5 to February 12, 2010, business confidence index rose to 39.1 percent compared to 22.0 percent in Q4 2009 and -23.9 percent in Q1 2009. This is the highest level the BCI reached in two years. Meanwhile the next quarter index for 2010 stood at 52.6 percent, the second highest level reached since the survey started in 2001.

Moderate inflation, the steady stream of overseas Filipinos remittances, and election-related spending are some of the factors that encouraged the respondents to expect higher spending that will spur business activity. Furthermore, firms expected that continued foreign investment inflows would help provide funds for economic expansion.

The survey also stated that business optimism is present in all sectors, with the construction and service sectors expressing heightened optimism.

As for hiring new workers, employment outlook index for the next quarter reached an all-time high of 22.0 percent. The employment outlook was particularly favorable for the construction and services sectors, (e.g., the financial intermediation, renting and business activities, real estate and hotel and restaurant sub-sectors) as these companies gear up for heightened demand during the summer season and the May political exercise.

However, competition, weak demand, which leads to low sales volume, and financial problems are the key challenges that businesses will face this year.

Trabaho.com thanks its following sources:
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Media Release. Businesses are more Confident in Q1 2010 (Posted February 25, 2010) Retrieved March 1, 2010 from
http://www.bsp.gov.ph/publications/media.asp?id=2271

Agcaoili, Lawrence, The Philippine Star. Local firms in hiring mode – survey (Posted March 1, 2010). Retrieved March 1, 2010 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=553769

Gomez, Lailany, The Manila Times. Job prospects brighter in 2nd quarter. (Posted March 1, 2010) Retrieved March 1, 2010 from
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business-columns/12407-job-prospects-brighter-in-2nd-quarter

Gomez, Lailany, The Manila Times. RP businesses turn more optimistic (Posted February 26, 2010) Retrieved March 1, 2010 from
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business-columns/12247-rp-businesses-turn-more-optimistic

Remo, Michelle, Philippine Daily Inquirer. BSP’s employment outlook index hits all-time high (Posted February 28, 2010) Retrieved March 1, 2010 from
http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20100228-255923/BSPs-employment-outlook-index-hits-all-time-high

DOLE Extends Aid to GenSan Tuna Workers

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has created Task Force GenSan (TFGS) to aid the fishermen from General Santos City who were affected by the two-year ban against over-fishing imposed by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque said that that the Department has started consulting and mobilizing industry and social partners to assess the needs and provide interventions to both the trade players and workers affected by a two-year ban against over-fishing of tuna in the Pacific Ocean.

The ban, which started on January 1, 2010 was meant to stop over-fishing, did not exempt purse seine fishing, a technique mostly used by General Santos City-based fishers. Purse seine fishing uses a rope that passes through all the rings, and when pulled, draws the rings close to one another, preventing the fish from "sounding", or swimming down to escape the net.

Sec. Roque has directed DOLE Regional Office No. 12 in General Santos City to set up a one-stop emergency employment centers in strategic sites this week and initiated coordination with concerned government offices including the Bureau of Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the local government units- Public Employment Service Office for immediate dispatch of assistance, profiling and data banking of affected workers.

The Labor Chief announced the activation of two projects for livelihood and emergency employment and projects under the Tulong Pangkabuhayan Para sa mga Disadvantaged (TUPAD) and Integrated Services for Livelihood Assistance (ISLA) for workers who will be displaced by the temporary work suspension as a result of the two-year ban.

The Labor Department also offers employment facilitation services to local and overseas jobs, skills survey, training and scholarships, Diskwento caravan and youth employment under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) and Kabataan ITO programs.

In a press statement, fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) National Chair Fernando Hicap said that 150,000 jobs will be lost and around 750,000 people indirectly dependent on the country’s backward tuna fishing industry will also feel the economic disaster of this 2-year tuna ban, dubbed as the “Great Tuna Crisis” of 2010.

General Santos City is known as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines. According to the city’s website, the Philippines ranks 7th among the top tuna producing countries in the world, both in terms of fresh/frozen tuna and canned tuna. The tuna industry here is currently valued at $380 million based on annual export figures of 400 metric tons per year.

Trabaho.com thanks its following sources:
DOLE Information and Publication Office. DOLE creates task force to assist local tuna industry workers (Posted February 19, 2010) Retrieved February 22, 2010 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/secondpage.php?id=1139

Mamanglu, Shianee, Manila Bulletin. Tuna fish ban to affect local industry – DoLE (Posted February 20, 2010). Retrieved February 22, 2010 from
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/244420/tuna-fish-ban-affect-local-industry-dole

Jaymalin, Mayen, The Philippine Star. 500 General Santos fishers may lose jobs due to tuna fishing ban (Posted February 19, 2010). Retrieved February 22, 2010 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=550852&publicationSubCategoryId=67

Alvarez, Kathrina, Sun.Star Manila. Dole assists tuna industry workers (Posted February 21, 2010). Retrieved February 22, 2010 from
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/dole-assists-tuna-industry-workers

Hicap, Sugar, Billy Javier-Reyes, Joyce Cabral, and Gerry Albert Corpuz, The Pamalakaya Times. Gov’t no contingency plans on tuna job crisis, says fishers group (Posted January 29, 2010). Retrieved February 22, 2010 from
http://pampil.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/govt-no-contingency-plans-on-tuna-job-crisis-says-fishers-group/

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS The 15th Jobs Fair At The Mega by Island Exhibit Link WHEN: March 12-13, 2010 WHERE: Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City The Alphaland South Gate Mall Job Fair by Philtrade Exhibits WHEN: March 12-13, 2010 WHERE: Alphaland South Gate Mall, Makati City Job Fair 2010 by RDR Realty Corporation WHEN: March 20, 2010 WHERE: G/F South Lobby, Broadway Centrum, Quezon City The Manila Bulletin Classified's Job Fair by Adexhibit WHEN: March 23-24, 2010 WHERE: Glorietta Activity Center Job World Job Fair 2010 Leg 6 by Neotrade Enterprises WHEN: March 23-25, 2010 WHERE: Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas, Quezon City

JOB ADS Quali-Centrum Human Resources - Marketing Assistants/Telemarketers - Hr-Assistants/Officers - Accounting Assistant/Clerks - Receptionist - General Clerks/Filing Clerks (200) - Sales Clerk/Sales Staff (50) - Cashiers (50) - Food Server/Waiter - Kitchen Helper - Drivers - Riders - Sales Associate - Marketing Professionals - Hr-Assistants/Officers - Accounting Assistant/Officers - Receptionist/Telephone Operator/Secretary - General Clerk/Filing Clerk (60) - Data Encoder (0) - Sales Associate (30) - Sales Clerk (100) - Automotive Technicians - Marketing Professionals - Job Controller - Telephone Operator - Service & Parts Manager - Accounting Assistant (100) - Human Resource Staff (50) - Marketing Assistant (30) - Money Sorters (100) - Payroll Assistant/Timekeeper (50) - Administrative Assistant (20) - General Clerk/ Encoder (100) - Sales Assistant/Sales Clerk (200) Daekyo Philippines - Marketing Assistant - English Instructor for Center Justino Corporation - Internal Inventory Auditor - Warehouse Stock Personnel JRadiance Corporation - Sales Ladies/Promodizer - Licensed Pharmacist FX Sagot, Inc. - Sales Consultant DDC Land - Human Resource Assistant - Documentation Staff - Accounting Clerk – Site - Accounting Processor - Finance - Heavy Equipment Mechanic - Motorpool Supervisor - Sales Marketing Officers - Contractors - Driver - Sales Manager Trabaho Client 245 - Senior Engineers Golden Mango International - Senior Accountant United Polyresin, Inc. - Printing Foreman - Maintenance Section Head - Receptionist - Production Staff - Marketing Staff - Production Encoder - Accounting Head Linknet.com, Inc. - Network Cable Installer/Supervisor - Technical Support Quadrant Information Services, Inc. - Programmer Remitcard, Inc. - Information Technology (I.T.) Staff MORE JOB POSTINGS...

DOLE Rejected Deployment Ban of Pinoy Seafarers to Somalia

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) rejected the proposal by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ban deployment of Filipino seafarers to foreign vessels that pass the pirate-infeste d waters of Somalia.

In a statement sent to the press, DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque said that he does not recommend the banning of Filipino seafarers from working in foreign vessels in Somalia. He said that interventions on how to deal with the piracy problem have been identified during the Anti-Piracy Summit for Filipino Seafarers held last January 8, 2010 at the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) Seamen’s Center in Intramuros, Manila.

Sec. Roque said the proposed ban would only result in loss of jobs among Filipino seafarers that would affect their families, the Philippine seafaring industry, and most especially, the economy.

The issues identified by the DFA in its recommendation are being addressed in the implementation of a joint communiqué or agreement forged between DOLE, seafarers groups, manning and shipping sectors and workers/seafarers unions including the International Labor Organization and International Maritime Organization signed during the anti-piracy summit.

As provided for by the joint communiqué, DOLE, through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will expand the functions of its crisis monitoring committee and enlarge its membership to involve representations of all tripartite sectors. It shall also provide psycho-social counseling and other support services seafarers who are victims of piracy, and their families.

On their part, manning recruitment agencies shall provide free anti-piracy training program and orientation for all departing seafarers.

Sec. Roque said that more than 200 agencies out of 350 manning firms have already submitted their anti-piracy training modules to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The final approval of the said modules will be based on the standard training module which the POEA is preparing in coordination with the Maritime Training Center (MTC).

Previously, the DFA sent a recommendation to President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo for the toal ban on the deployment of Filipino seamen due to rampant kidnapping and piracy by Somali pirates. Last February 11, 17 Filipino seamen were released by Somali pirates after spending 10 months in captivity. These seafarers were crew members of Taiwanese fishing vessel Win Far 16 that was seized by Somali pirates last April 6, 2009 near an island in the Seychelles, more than 1,100 kilometers off the coast of Somalia.

There are 23 Filipinos who remain in the hands of Somali pirates - two onboard the Thai Union 3, three onboard the MV St. James Park, and 18 onboard the MV Navios Apollon.

Trabaho.com thanks its following sources:
Jaymalin, Mayen, The Philippine Star. DOLE nixes proposal to ban Pinoy seafarers in Somalia (Posted February 15, 2010). Retrieved February 15, 2010 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=549800&publicationSubCategoryId=67

Torres, Estrella, Business Mirror. Somali pirates release 17 Filipino seamen (Posted February 15, 2010). Retrieved February 15, 2010 from
http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21856:somali-pirates-release-17-filipino-seamen&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58

Uy, Veronica, INQUIRER.net. No OFW deployment ban to Somalia—labor chief (Posted February 14, 2010). Retrieved February 15, 2010 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100214-253148/No-OFW-deployment-ban-to-Somalialabor-chief

Luci, Charissa, Manial Bulletin. Somali pirates free 17 Filipino seamen (Posted February 12, 2010). Retrieved February 15, 2010 from
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/243207/somali-pirates-free-17-filipino-seamen

Department of Foreign Affairs Press Release. 17 Filipino Seafarers Releases from Captivity in Somalia (Posted February 12, 2010). Retrieved February 15, 2010 from
http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/press-releases/732-17-filipino-seafarers-releases-from-captivity-in-somalia

Gonzalez, Mia, Business MIrror. Somalia deployment ban eyed (Posted February 4, 2010). Retrieved February 15, 2010 from
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21439:somalia-deployment-ban-eyed&catid=23:topnews&Itemid=58

JOB FAIRS AND EVENTS Asia Internet Congress Philippines by Powermax Consulting Group, Inc. WHEN: March 4-5, 2010 WHERE: Crowne Plaza Galleria, Quezon City Job World Job Fair 2010 Leg 5 by Neotrade Enterprises WHEN: March 10-11, 2010 WHERE: Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City The 15th Jobs Fair At The Mega by Island Exhibit Link WHEN: March 12-13, 2010 WHERE: Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City The Alphaland South Gate Mall Job Fair by Philtrade Exhibits WHEN: March 12-13, 2010 WHERE: Alphaland South Gate Mall, Makati City

JOB ADS Daekyo Philippines - Marketing Assistant - English Instructor for Center Justino Corporation - Internal Inventory Auditor - Warehouse Stock Personnel JRadiance Corporation - Sales Ladies/Promodizer - Licensed Pharmacist FX Sagot, Inc. - Sales Consultant DDC Land - Human Resource Assistant - Documentation Staff - Accounting Clerk – Site - Accounting Processor - Finance - Heavy Equipment Mechanic - Motorpool Supervisor - Sales Marketing Officers - Contractors - Driver - Sales Manager Trabaho Client 245 - Senior Engineers Golden Mango International - Senior Accountant United Polyresin, Inc. - Printing Foreman - Maintenance Section Head - Receptionist - Production Staff - Marketing Staff - Production Encoder - Accounting Head Linknet.com, Inc. - Network Cable Installer/Supervisor - Technical Support Quadrant Information Services, Inc. - Programmer Remitcard, Inc. - Information Technology (I.T.) Staff MORE JOB POSTINGS Philamlife Web Philippines, Inc. Asian College of Science and Technology (ACSAT) Smart Communications Inc. Business Maker Academy Allied Savings Bank Amnesty International Automatic Centre The Bellevue Manila British Council British Embassy Manila Capitol Medical Center Caritas Manila Child Fund Philippines Hinge Inquirer Publications International Labor Organization ILO Construction Inc. InterContinental Hotels Group International Rice Research Institute La Isla MacroAsia Catering Services Mainichi Newspaper Marikina Valley Medical Center Mission Alliance Museo Pambata Foundation, Inc. National Commission For Culture and The Arts Olivarez Group of Companies Philippine Development Assistance Programme, Inc. Philippine Daily Inquirer Philippine Heart Center Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. Plan International Power Steel Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Inc. Seameo Innotech United Nations Development Programme UNICEF US Agency For International Development United States Peace Corps Philippines Programme VSO