"Heroic" Capitalism?

"Heroic" Capitalism?

Sounds ridiculous, as Capitalism can't be "Heroic" as it degenerates society in all spheres and represses the great mass of people regardless of its progression.

At first, we may call it "Heroic" especially due to its dynamism and progression; yet in fact these countries, especially those controlled by rotten societies trying to "develop" into "progressive" ones tend to vent such sentiments in it-especially for the sake of retaining the features of the rotten social order, analogous to an old, dilapidated house having a fresh coat of paint in it as the idea of an "Heroic", "Dynamic" Capitalism may sound attractive enough to please the people and think that Capitalist societies benefits everyone; yet as evidenced by the realities happened around the world, "Heroic" Capitalist societies, especially those trying to develop from its original feudal character aren't really becoming Capitalist as remnants of Feudalism remained deeply rooted to its core; during Mussolini's time Italy remained agrarian regardless of having an industrial outlet, yet despite having a young industrial sector agriculture, especially those owned by the landlords remained the dominant feature of the society.

The Philippines tried much to become a Capitalist society in the guise of turning it into an "Agro-Industrial" state especially during the Marcos regime. During his rule, agrarian reform was "enforced" by a decree, followed by various measures just to justify the country's transformation from a predominantly agrarian, feudal, into an agro-industrial society with the creation of export processing zones and creation of industries that in fact, assembly line factories owned by foreign interests, using domestic comprador bourgeoisie and landlords as its dummies. Worse? Despite these zones, the society remained feudal as agricultural, ranging from landlordism to corporate farming remained dominant in the countryside, emphasising the former so to speak.

And at first, how come Capitalism be "Dynamic" and "Heroic" if there are repressive features retained in it? Did that "Heroic" Capitalism gave birth to a strong domestic National Bourgeoisie? The government even curtailed attempts to industrialize the country especially when it comes to heavy industry! So where's the dynamism in it, manifested by a strong industrial sector and a strong, domestic industrialists willing to develop the nation? Even a common person may think of it as ridiculous and illusion in a semifeudal, semicolonial society as he himself, working 24 hours, 7 days a week yet having little or no salary, the fruits of so-called "Heroic" Capitalism!

And desperately so to speak, in regards to that idea, as every Capitalist of a comprador type, worse, a landlord, would set up measures, programs in order to make the Feudal character of the society "wither" away and telling that the society as Capitalist. Marcos' Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran, for example, became a form of sweatshop labour in a guise of a livelihood project like cottage industries, and instead of being sold domestically, were being sold in foreign establishments, such as Bloomingdales, in large numbers, and its profits end up in corrupt officials if not for foreign supporters of that said program. The Carnation's Baka-unlaran project of raising dairy cows by small time farmers was a means to generate more income by the company using the farmers as its front, substituting the latter for their company bred ones; other programs perhaps, like creation of backyard raising of cows, pigs, even poultry supported by bigger meat-producing entities like San Miguel or RFM, like the Baka-unlaran project, was also a mean to generate more income for these companies while pitting the low-earning farmworker, turning them into a peon for these entities as expected; few perhaps are those who gain benefit, and often used as propaganda to entice low-earning farmers to join in these dubious-sounding projects that in fact, toppings for Capitalist, or rather say, Semi-Feudal repression; as most owners, controllers of corporations, Comprador Capitalists, are also Landlords themselves.

Sometimes, they often apply "Leftist" rhetoric, and even supported pleas especially from the opportunist "Social Democrats" (if not in the legislature, perhaps in the cabinet), all for goddamn sake of appeasing the people! America for instance, some of its policies under the Democtatic Party often applied Social Democratic means like health care and education, that one party in Minnesota had a "Social Democratic" leaning while at the same time aligned with the Democratic party; and as expected, such policies like health care and the like somehow showed its idea that to others may ought to call as "Populist" or in case of critics-"Socialist." Using "Leftism" to justify their Capitalistic action really creates an atmosphere enticing the working class, using them to ease their "Anger" against the system like the programs alleviating poverty, providing jobs to end unemployment, free or discounted health care and education, or in other words a welfare state, perhaps are examples of desperate actions laid by a Capitalist state to make Capitalism "Heroic" and "Hopeful" for the sake of countering Socialism.

But, Does the Developing or Underdeveloped, dependent countries do so in developing the society despite maintaining every rotten feature plus a series of debts?

Upon assessing it, turning a predominantly agricultural society into an "Agro-Industrial" in a third world country seemed hopeless as those who control the society tried much to maintain the rotten features such as a predominantly backward Agricultural method, limited industry, and of course reliance to foreign goods and aid; the "Cheap Labour" policy for foreign entities further creates an atmosphere of worriness as more and more people, promising a stable way of life are still living in abrupt poverty due to the repressive conditions laid upon by the system. Such actions, programs created for the sake of "Development" are merely acted as propaganda for sake, like Nicaragua during the Somoza era, its profits gained are being accumulated to a single person, clique controlling the entire nation while those who supposedly benefited from that program remained as it is. After all the programs are oftentimes supported by debts and aid that takes a long year to be paid off-that made us still left behind regardless of what is set forth into, creating a question like this:

"Why are we still poor despite having these things created away?

Are these all debts to be paid?"

Well... since the history of the Philippines is the saga of a people who sailed the seas and reshaped the land to create better conditions of life for themselves; then it is also the saga of struggles that it involves taking off the lives of their oppressor kind and trying to reshape again the land, the society itself gearing towards a dream that the system may say as 'far too reach'.

Of Yankeephilic individuals, sentiments, and their narrow mindedness

Of Yankeephilic individuals, sentiments, and their narrow mindedness

"Our nation (The United States of America) was based on the ideal of individual Freedoms and individual rights no other nation was created on those principles. That is why we dominate because when we are at our best we liberate individuals to be the best they can be doing what they love doing. And we believe that each individual has the right to make their own choices."

These words mirror an idea of a narrow minded American loyalist. These words also state the fact trying to justify America as dominator of the world, using such phrases like individual rights and individual freedoms, privileges that in fact, being deprived in nations under their control. How wonder why people agreed to this kind of sentiment regardless of bloodshed, ravage, everything what their "sovereign country" did to others.

Upon reading it, sounds nice and appealing that the person saying those words was trying to justify America as "Liberator" like during World War II, Korea, Vietnam even Afghanistan and Iraq, but to the victims of that "Liberator", will they accept that kind of sentiment said so? Partially yes but absolutely NO!

Why?

First, they may agree on such sentiment like rights, freedoms, but at the same time opposing the point of view of every American-that instead of being "Liberated", it is as if being "Forced", "Imposed" that is contrary to their aspirations, ideas, including their well-cherished freedoms and rights, that are, inherent to every people and their respective societies.

Worse,

Bragging with pride as "Vanguard of Democracy", "Liberty", the United States of America is as if monopolizing everything that, everything contrary to their so-called principles are to be perished, destroyed by force if not by embargo or anything just to submit to their will; as evidenced in the past, we sought every nation being "neo-colonialized" by the great almighty U.S.ofA are rather acting as if gardens, mining and oil fields, everything an American ought to get a bigger chunk of it both the kind and the profit accumulated. The Philippines for example, they produced sugar, rice, cacao, copra just be exported away than to feed its own people!

Once there's a person countering the former sentiment, and said:

"Because we LIE.

We lie about everything.

Deception has got us where we are today.

"America" meaning the rich bankers and companies dominates not only the world but doesnt hesitate to screw its own people for profit. THey are literally KILLING us slowly for profit."

True to say so, as every report taken, profiteers in the guise of bankers and companies are gaining much profit because of the conflict, of the crisis taken pitting much the people while conditioning them to their consciousness like "self-centeredness" and the like; especially the concept of "Peace through Strength" that is, justifying Imperialism as its main purpose of creating conflicts in the pretext of maintaining order.

Speaking of that so-called "Peace through Strength", and its justification of producing much arms, training more men for the sake of goddamned Imperialism and profiteering, it somehow creating a conflict that is, resorting that has no victory nor any armistice but only total destruction; as evidenced by the arms race both by U.S. and U.S.S.R, it really creates a scene of a disaster, of trying to escape and looking for a peaceful world for the sake of maintaining lives.

Once, I remember a group of persons venting rage against the system in the Philippines, but despite their rage, I noticed that how come they are against the system yet admiring America and its system? And they even wanted the Philippines as part of America! as one of them said:

"The Philippine government is against the Filipino people. Our government officials have proven over and over again that they are worth shit! I'd rather see the Philippines as one of the states of America!"

Nice to say that the government is against the people, but how come that person wanted the Philippines to be a part of America? The Great Satan and the No.1 mass murder under the pretext of maintaining peace and order? Didn't he remember the early days of American colonization? Of having Samar turned into a howling wilderness? Of the struggles of the Pilipino people ranging from Millenarian-Populist movements (quoting Nemenzo) to Bourgeois Nationalists? Such sentiment, so to speak is not a patriot at all; worse? How come you are saying FUCK THE SYSTEM if you also support a SYSTEM who dominates the SYSTEM you are FUCKING off?

Another person, also said something against the system, and here it goes:

"Throughout history the Philippine government has always been corrupt, inhumane, wrong and evil. Filipino politicians are absolutely incapable of running the government. The system is going through a process of self-destruction. The END is near."

Nice to hear it, but on the other hand:

"I VOTE YES!"

Oh God! Sweet Stalin! You spoke of self-destruction and change, but how come you favor America than the Pilipino themselves in running their affairs? Your idol had a tattoo bearing the sun and the symbol of "Ka" representing Freedom, but why America? Where's the essence of destroying the system only to submit to America's wishes? It's like choosing McKinley over Bonifacio regardless of having a "Ka" Tattoo or everything "Patriotic" adorning your home! What's the purpose of those things anyway? Aestheic purposes? Mere displays of curiosity?

Well...

In assessing these kind of people, they are rather misunderstood enough to be called as upbringers of change, or rather say they don't speak change at all... but rather preserve everything, of having entire nations weak whilst their idol as strong.

Actually, "the Rich" Don't "Create Jobs," We Do

Actually, "the Rich" Don't "Create Jobs," We Do*

Dave Johnson, Campaign for America's Future

Saturday 14 May 2011

You hear it again and again, variation after variation on a core message: if you tax rich people it kills jobs. You hear about "job-killing tax hikes," or that "taxing the rich hurts jobs," "taxes kill jobs," "taxes take money out of the economy, "if you tax the rich they won't be able to provide jobs." ... on and on it goes. So do we really depend on "the rich" to "create" jobs? Or do jobs get created when they fill a need?

Here is a recent typical example, Obama Touts Job-Killing Tax Plan, written by a "senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth,"

Some people, in their pursuit of profit, benefit their fellow humans by creating new or better goods and services, and then by employing others. We call such people entrepreneurs and productive workers.

Others are parasites who suck the blood and energy away from the productive. Such people are most often found in government.

Perhaps the most vivid description of what happens to a society where the parasites become so numerous and powerful that they destroy their productive hosts is Ayn Rand’s classic novel “Atlas Shrugged.” ...

Producers and Parasites

The idea that there are producers and parasites as expressed in the example above has become a core philosophy of conservatives. They claim that wealthy people "produce" and are rich because they "produce." The rest of us are "parasites" who suck blood and energy from the productive rich, by taxing them. In this belief system, We, the People are basically just "the help" who are otherwise in the way, and taxing the producers to pay for our "entitlements." We "take money" from the producers through taxes, which are "redistributed" to the parasites. They repeat the slogan, "Taxes are theft," and take the "money we earned" by "force" (i.e. government.)

Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner echoes this core philosophy of "producers" and "parasites," saying yesterday,

I believe raising taxes on the very people that we expect to reinvest in our economy and to hire people is the wrong idea,” he said. “For those people to give that money to the government…means it wont get reinvested in our economy at a time when we’re trying to create jobs.”

"The very people" who "hire people" shouldn't have to pay taxes because that money is then taken out of the productive economy and just given to the parasites -- "the help" -- meaning you and me...

So is it true? Do "they" create jobs? Do we "depend on" the wealthy to "create jobs?"

Demand Creates Jobs

I used to own a business and have been in senior positions at other businesses, and I know many others who have started and operated businesses of all sizes. I can tell you from direct experience that I tried very hard to employ the right number of people. What I mean by this is that when there were lots of customers I would add people to meet the demand. And when demand slacked off I had to let people go.

If I had extra money I wouldn't just hire people to sit around and read the paper. And if I had more customers than I could handle that -- the revenue generated by meeting the additional demand from the extra customers -- is what would pay for employing more people to meet the demand. It is a pretty simple equation:

you employ the right number of people to meet the demand your business has.

If you ask around you will find that every business tries to employ the right number of people to meet the demand. Any business owner or manager will tell you that they hire based on need, not on how much they have in the bank. (Read more here, in last year's Businesses Do Not Create Jobs.)

Taxes make absolutely no difference in the hiring equation.

In fact, paying taxes means you are already making money, which means you have already hired the right number of people. Taxes are based on subtracting your costs from your revenue, and if you have profits after you cover your costs, then you might be taxed. You don't even calculate your taxes until well after the hiring decision has been made. You don;t lay people off to "cover" your taxes. And even if you did lay people off to "cover' taxes it would lower your costs and you would have more profit, which means you would have more taxes... except that laying someone off when you had demand would cause you to have less revenue, ... and you see how ridiculous it is to associate taxes with hiring at all!

People coming in the door and buying things is what creates jobs.

The Rich Do Not Create Jobs

Lots of regular people having money to spend is what creates jobs and businesses. That is the basic idea of demand-side economics and it works. In a consumer-driven economy designed to serve people, regular people with money in their pockets is what keeps everything going. And the equal opportunity of democracy with its reinvestment in infrastructure and education and the other fruits of democracy is fundamental to keeping a demand-side economy functioning.

When all the money goes to a few at the top everything breaks down. Taxing the people at the top and reinvesting the money into the democratic society is fundamental to keeping things going.

Democracy Creates Jobs

This idea that a few wealthy people -- the "producers" -- hand everything down to the rest of us -- "the parasites" -- is fundamentally at odds with the concept of democracy. In a democracy we all have an equal voice and an equal stake in how our society and our economy does. We do not "depend" on the good graces of a favored few for our livelihoods. We all are supposed to have an equal opportunity, and equal rights. And there are things we are all entitled to -- "entitlements" -- that we get just because we were born here. But we all share in the responsibility to cover the costs of democracy --

with the rich having a greater responsibility than the rest of us because they receive the most benefit from it.

This is why we have "progressive taxes" where the rates are supposed to go up as the income does.

Taxes Are The Lifeblood Of Democracy And The Prosperity That Democracy Produces

In a democracy the rich are supposed to pay more to cover things like building and maintaining the roads and schools because these are the things that enable their wealth. They actually do use the roads and schools more because the roads enable their businesses to prosper and the schools provide educated employees. But it isn't just that the rich use roads more, it is that everyone has a right to use roads and a right to transportation because we are a democracy and everyone has the same rights. And as a citizen in a democracy you have an obligation to pay your share for that.

A democracy is supposed have a progressive tax structure that is in proportion to the means to pay. We do this becausethose who get more from the system do so because the democratic system offers them that ability. Their wealth is because of our system and therefore they owe back to the system in proportion. (Plus, history has taught the lesson that great wealth opposes democracy, so democracy must oppose the accumulation of great, disproportional wealth. In other words, part of the contract of living in a democracy is your obligation to protect the democracy and high taxes at the top is one of those protections.)

The conservative "producer and parasite" anti-tax philosophy is fundamentally at odds with the concepts of democracy (which they proudly acknowledge - see more here, and here) and should be understood and criticized as such. Taxes do not "take money out of the economy" they enable the economy. The rich do not "create jobs, We, the People create jobs.

* Url:http://www.truth-out.org/actually-rich-dont-create-jobs-we-do/1305380742

The ‘good news’ workers want to hear

The ‘good news’ workers want to hear*

Anjo C. Alimario, Researcher

April 30, 2011

Today is President Aquino’s first May 1 as president, a day when thousands of workers from various labor organizations and unions all over the country traditionally converge, carrying their sentiments to the government to prioritize their rights and welfare.

But even with the changing of the guard from the nine-year rule of the Arroyo administration, Filipino workers say they see not much difference with the current labor situation in the country. In fact, they say it’s much worse with the skyrocketing of the prices of basic goods.

As more than 30,000 workers meet in Metro Manila and with more than 100,000 others in the provinces staging their own mobilizations, based on the estimates of Anakpawis Partylist, they are one in saying that President Aquino should review his economic policies to include the workers’ interests.

“If he is really serious in hearing out our concerns, he needs to prioritize on his labor agenda the much-needed wage hike,” Joel Maglunsod, Anakpawis executive vice president, said in Filipino in a recent interview with the BusinessMirror.

In the headquarters of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Intramuros, Manila, members of Anakpawis will deliver a large envelope containing the “good news” of what the people want to hear from the President—a P125 legislated wage increase, the repeal of the oil-deregulation law and value-added tax on oil, control of oil prices and commodities, adequate work and the repeal of contractualization.

According to the explanatory note of the pending House Bill 375, or P125 Daily Across-the-Board Wage Increase Act, under Republic Act 6727, or the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989, the task of studying fixing and raising of wages was given to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB).

The minimum wage differs from one region to another, and further differentiated according to locality, industry and employment size—standards set arbitrarily by the wage boards, it added.

“P-Noy will pass the issue on wage hike to the regional wage boards, but in the 22-year existence of the wage boards, it does not meet the workers’ needs—just providing meager wage increases. The P26 given is the highest in history,” Maglunsod emphasized.

What remains clear, as argued by the authors of the bill, is that minimum wages have remained grossly inadequate to support decent living standards after more than a decade of wage rationalization. “This highlights the failure of the government to provide economic relief for workers toward securing a living wage as mandated by the Constitution,” the paper read.

A symbol of workers’ demand

It was in the 13th Congress when the Committee on Labor and Employment, headed by Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Roseller Barinaga, was able to finalize House Bill (HB) 345 and registered the bill for plenary debate. The bill reached third and final readings.

On December 22, 2006, it was approved by the House through a majority vote and by rights the bill was passed.

But the bill could only reach that stage for it was recalled due to “blatant manipulation and disregard of the House rules.” It has taken more than seven years for the P125 legislated wage-increase bill to reach the level that it did in the 13th Congress.

In the following Congress, the bill was refiled as HB 1722. Despite the strong nationwide clamor for economic relief and constant lobbying of workers, the measure did not go any further after a single hearing in 2008.

The P125 legislated wake-hike demand has been recognized as a symbol of the Filipino workers’ united demand for economic relief. “Now, almost 11 years after, this fight for the granting of a legislated increase remains valid more than ever,” the statement read.

After the May 2010 elections, the RTWPB, under the DOLE, announced the granting of a P22 daily wage increase for workers in the National Capital Region (NCR). This hike increased the wage from P382 to P404 in the NCR, which is the last wage increase granted by former President Arroyo.

As of July 2010, the P404 minimum wage in the NCR has a shortfall of P553 against the estimated P957 family living wage. Moreover, the purchasing power of peso has been constantly eroded due to inflation.

The current family wage estimate is likely already twice the daily minimum wage and a P125 wage increase will not even make up for inflation that has eroded real incomes over the last three years, as stated in the paper.

“The fact is the additional P125 is not enough. With the estimate in the cost of living here in Metro Manila at P957 per day, you add P125 to P404 minimum wage, P529 is not even enough,” Maglunsod said.

The note emphasized that business owners’ age-old alibi that wage hikes would result in layoffs, cost-cutting measures and ultimate shutdown of companies was proved to be nothing more than “a blackmail excuse” to deprive workers of a much-needed wage increase.

Inflation argument

The argument that a wage increase will be inflationary is also disproved by the fact that labor costs comprise no more than 11 percent of the production costs on the average in all industries.

According to IBON Foundation, the net income of the top 1,000 corporations in the country soared from P116.4 billion in 2001 to P756 billion in 2009.

In a study by the Ecumenical Institute for Labor and Education Research (EILER) in the manufacturing sector, the share of the workers from the net incomes of companies decreases yearly, while company owners bloat their profits.

Based on the DOLE data in 2007, there are 1.8 million unionized workers that account for 5 percent of the total work force of 36 million. Of this number, only 242,000 workers are covered by existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Workers covered by CBA represent only 0.7 percent of the total employed work force, 1.4 percent of wage and salary workers and 12.4 percent of total union members.

Anakpawis data show that as of last year, only 1.7 million out of 19.5 million wage and salary workers are organized under unions. This is less than half of the 3.85 million unionized workers in 2001, and the figures continue to deplete.

During the first months of President Aquino’s term, the last waves of meager wage increases by the Arroyo administration through the wage boards were implemented: P22 in the NCR, P15 in Region VI, P18 in Region VII, P13 and P12 cost of living allowance (Cola) integration in Region X, P21 in Region XI, P10 and P10 Cola integration in Region XIII, and P12 in the ARMM.

“Aquino is about to start his first round of convening the wage boards next month. It took Aquino almost a year, despite severe price hikes, to finally do something on wage hike. But Anakpawis Partylist is wary that his first move on wages will only kill the hopes for a substantial wage hike, since it will again be coursed through the wage boards, and not through legislation, which what Anakpawis Partylist’s House Bill 375 is all about,” the group said in its brief.

Since the creation of regional wage boards under the term of his mother in 1989, no more than a P26 increase was granted in a year. The average yearly increase granted for the past 22 years in the NCR is only P10.75.

According to the EILER study, wages are eroding so fast under the Aquino administration, that the real wage value eroded by negative 7 in only the first six months of Mr. Aquino.

In 2001 the real value of minimum wage, using year 2000 as base prices, is P237. In June 2010 real wage meagerly increased to P242. In February 2011, or after just eight months under the new administration, real value of minimum wage declined to P235.

‘Worst in history’

The unemployment rate for 2010, according to IBON, stands at 11.6 percent —“the worst in history,” the group noted.

While the number of unemployed increases, the more people become desperate and vulnerable to repressive working conditions. The group added that the Aquino administration still uses the distorted categorization of employment started by Arroyo in April 2005, where people who do not look for work anymore are excluded from the labor force, thereby shrinking artificially the unemployment rate.

“So the government always reports lesser unemployment rate,” the group added.

With 35 million Filipinos employed reported by the government, the figure already includes 4.22 million “unpaid family workers” and 12.16 million “own account workers.”

“The announcement from DOLE on Labor Day is the purported distribution of jobs in large job fairs. But the distribution of temporary jobs and irregular in nature does not solve poverty, and if mass layoffs and contractualization will always be permitted,” Maglunsod said.

On the issue of workers’ rights, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights 2010 data reveal that there are many forms of civil and political rights violations observed under the present administration that include killing, frustrated/attempted killing, physical assault, grave threat and coercion, among others.

There were 68 documented cases with 1,361 victims, of which 103 were women. And six were killed under the current administration, where three labor leaders were murdered this year. The latest was Santos Manrique, Federation of Mineworkers Association president, on April 12 in Compostela Valley.

“If the good news coming from the present administration in essence would not involve lifting the livelihood of the people, then people can only expect bad news from the Aquino administration,” Maglunsod declared.

* Url:http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/10521-the-good-news-workers-want-to-hear

Labor groups push for wage hike, end to contractualization

Labor groups push for wage hike, end to contractualization*

Saturday, April 30, 2011

MANILA — Various groups confirmed plans to seek from the government improved conditions for workers nationwide while Malacañang is set to announce a package of non-wage benefits for workers as part of Sunday’s Labor Day celebration.

“We’ll push for increased wages and an end to contractualization in the workplace,” National Labor Union president Dave Diwa said during the Kapihan sa QC forum at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City on Saturday.

Workers will also call for Malacañang’s action on other labor-related concerns of national importance like power cost and taxes, he added.

President Benigno Aquino III is set to have a breakfast dialogue with leaders of major labor groups on Sunday.

According to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, 90 labor leaders from 17 groups have confirmed attendance to the dialogue.

Some of these groups include the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Alliance of Filipino Workers, Alliance of Progressive Labor, National Confederation of Labor, National Union of Bank Employees, and the Philippine Association of Migrant Workers and Advocates.

Left-wing group Kilusang Mayo Uno was not invited to the dialogue.

“Dati inanyahan namin yan pero ang kanilang preference ay hindi makilahok. May separate sila na programa at yan naman ay nirerespeto natin dahil ito ay kanilang araw (We used to invite them, but their preference is not to attend. They have a separate program and we respect that because it’s their day),”Baldoz explained.

Early this month, Malacañang announced there will be “good news” on Labor Day to help workers cope with the rising prices of oil and basic commodities.

However, this did not refer to wage increase.

“We all eagerly await the news from the President tomorrow (Sunday) so it will be a big day for all of us tomorrow,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Saturday over government-run dzRB radio.

Valte refused to give additional details on the Labor Day gift of the government, avoiding preempting the President’s announcement.

Anakpawis Executive Vice President Joel Maglunsod said Malacañang must certify as urgent bills proposing wage hikes in both public and private sectors.

Such action is already due as the country’s last legislated wage hike was in 1989 when government approved a P30 across-the-board increase, he noted.

“Government says a wage hike will be inflationary and will create a myriad of negative repercussions but we say it’s time for this since prices are rising,” he said at the forum.

He maintains a wage hike is viable at this time.

Citing results of National Statistics Office’s 2008 survey, he said companies with over 20 employees each collectively realized then profits of about P895.2 billion.

Cost

Implementing a P125 across-the-board wage hike means such companies will spend only P135.6 billion for workers’ salaries.

Companies concerned will still net a profit of P759.6 billion even if workers’ salaries are deducted from total revenues, he noted.

“The problem is employers don’t want to increase their workers’ salaries as they don’t want their profit margins diminished,” he said.

In its statement for Labor Day, Workers Action for Reforms (WAR) reported the prevailing minimum daily wage for an eight-hour work in various regions nationwide, except National Capital Region (NCR) and Calabarzon “is below or slightly above the poverty threshold.”

Threshold

Government’s estimated Philippine poverty threshold in 2009 was P7,953 for a family of five, WAR noted.

WAR further said prevailing minimum wages outside NCR and Calabarzon range from P187 to P316, making life difficult for people concerned.

Diwa pointed out government must eradicate labor contractualization because this practice undermines the potential of workers--mostly college graduates in their early to mid-20s and raring to work—aside from failing to bring forth security of tenure in the workplace.

“They’re hired for five months, then fired,” he said.

Maglunsod also said contractualization, oil deregulation and trade liberalization are among factors preventing small and medium enterprises from truly becoming competitive.

Jobs fair

Meanwhile, the labor secretary also invited jobseekers to attend the Labor Day Job and Livelihood Fair with at least 190,000 job vacancies from 2,000 employers.

The main Labor Day Job and Livelihood Fair will be held in the Lagoon Area of the Rizal Park between Maria Orosa St. and Roxas Blvd.

The regional jobs and livelihood fair will be at the SM Baguio and Baguio Convention Center in the Cordillera Administrative Region; SM Rosales, Pangasinan in Ilocos Region; Francisco L. Dy Coliseum, Cauayan, Isabela in Cagayan Valley; SM San Fernando, Pampanga and SM Baliwag, Bulacan in Central Luzon; SM Sta. Rosa, Laguna and SM Rosario, Cavite in Calabarzon; Divine World College, Calapan City in Mimaropa; SM Naga City in Bicol Region; SM Iloilo and SM Bacolod in Western Visayas; and SM Cebu City, Cebu International Convention Center, Abellana Sports Complex City, Cebu City and Macias Sports Complex, Dumaguete City in Central Visayas.

Other venues are as follows: Tacloban City Convention Center in Western Visayas; Western Mindanao State University Gymnasium, Zamboanga City, and Gaisano Capital, Pagadian City in Zamboanga Peninsula; SM Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao; and, SM Davao, Gaisano Mall Davao in Davao Region; KCC Mall in General Santos, Plaza Pavilion in Kidapawan City and the South Seas Mall, at Don R, Alfonso St., Cotabato City in Central Mindanao; and Dole regional office in Caraga. (Kathrina Alvarez/PNA/Sunnex)

* Url:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/04/30/labor-groups-push-wage-hike-end-contractualization-152873

Militants to burn PNoy-on-Porsche effigy on May 1

Militants to burn PNoy-on-Porsche effigy on May 1*

By Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

Posted at 04/30/2011

MANILA, Philippines - Less than 100 militant members of labor groups will be holding a vigil tonight (April 30) at the Quezon City Welcome Rotonda as preparation for Labor Day tomorrow.

Anakpawis Representative Joel Maglunsod said this is a way to encourage more support for the proposed 125 across-the-board wage increase a day before Labor Day.

Earlier, labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) slammed President Aquino's Labor Day "gift" of non-wage benefits from Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Samuel Malunes, vice chair for federation affairs of KMU, said that this felt more like a slap in the face, saying the Aquino administration's refusal to grant a significant wage hike needed to cope with skyrocketing prices is cause for outrage.

"Ang kailangan namin dagdag na sweldo pambuhay sa pamilya namin," Malunes said.

The KMU has prepared a huge effigy of President Aquino sitting atop a Porsche car. Malunes said this will be publicly burned at a protest rally tomorrow to symbolize the public's disgust at Aquino's insensitivity to the plight of laborers.

Aquino bought himself a second-hand Porsche amidst his own calls for austerity. The incident caused his popularity ratings to drop.

Thousands are expected to join tomorrow's protests, with groups convening as early as 8 a.m. at Trabajo, Blumentritt, Paco and Moriones.

The groups will then march towards the Liwasang Bonifacio by noon before proceeding to Mendiola for a short program.

* Url:http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/30/11/militants-burn-pnoy-porsche-effigy-may-1

Wages not Chains!

Wages not Chains!

We've all heard the news about the Labour Department's response of not issuing wage increase for the workers this coming May day.

Using "regional wage boards" as an alibi, the Labour department, obviously catering for the employers are simply disregarding the plight of the workers in midst of the growing crisis around the country, signified by the increase in prices of commodities, oil and gas, fares for transport and even tuition and other fees that seemed not enough for their daily wages, even it is being saved for years to support with.

But despite the protests and grievances, the system rather responded with rampant Fascism in the name of "Police action" and of "Harmony in the workingplace." Such actions rather fueled discontent and defiance-like those of the illegal settlers who threw sticks and stones against the riot police and demolition men just to defend their barricades, houses, and their right for a decent living, employment and education for their children. The system, despite parroting statements such as "Democracy", "Reform", "Change", or even "Transition" are merely like aluminum foils and toppings for their Conservatism and Repression; they may speak of harmony in the workingplace and impose Japanese-style models, but at the same time doing union busting whilst accumulating more profits whilst its workers aquired few to none.

In short, in lieu of an increased wage, the system rather imposed shackles and chains to the struggling worker. Putting them into contentment, such measures failed to stop the growing discontent as more and more workers, farmers, students, even the unemployed professionals felt the growing crisis and at the same time repression made by a system who speaks of a rhetoric contrary to their action. After all, to the reactionary system it is "Dura Lex Sed Lex" but to the toilers that "Lex" is nothing but a hollow set of phrases imposed just to control without any benefit at all. How come? Imposing fascism against the toilers to benefit the profiteers? Yes.

Today, and this coming May Day, all workers and peasants in the Philippines, bonded by disenfrachisement by the system and longing for a progressive society are marching, chanting, facing the gates of the keep where the coddler of the stooges staying.

MAY DAY GREETINGS

MAY DAY GREETINGS

On the occasion of the International Worker's Day, celebrated around the world, I simply covey this message to the people.

At first, we all recognize that the working class, both worker and peasant are experiencing a plight, having lost much of its rights and in a critical situation that makes them difficult to defend against the right-wing neoliberal and fascist onslaught fostered by the comprador bourgeoisie and of course by the imperialists, being promoters of rotten systems like Capitalism.

As expected, workers and peasants are experiencing inferior conditions of work, all in a massive competitive market, of having contractualization introdiced and reduction in working conditions, of having low wages and less securities whilst profits are gaining high by the compradore profiteers dominating. Workers are even nearly denied the right to collective bargain and even the right to associate in a progressive trade union that often be subjected to firing or death.

So are the farmers, that figthing for land reform continues all despite the repression laid upon by the landlords and of the state itself. That, like in Hacienda Yulo wherein they are violently dispersed by the military for the sake of using their cherished land into a residential and commercial area, these actions laid upon by the system, catering to moribound capitalists and landlords hastens the lessening of food supply and food reserves in a land that is agricultural, and being agricultural meant self sufficient in foodstuffs and other needs of the society.

And as for the students, self employed and the urban poor, their struggle for good education, decent and dignified living and adequate employment continues especially as the urban poor, usually called as "squatters" remained defiant against those who oppose their right to live through demolishing their houses without any replacement or be given a land "inefficient" and "unsupported." Being forced to mendicancy by the rotten social order due to massive unemployment, the urban poor are still fighting, alongside the workers and the peasants for decent living, employment and land willing to return to the soil with mind and heart; so are the students who faced the increase in tuition fees and rampant "scholastic fascism" and the self employed with intense competition laid by the giants supported by the system.

Lately, we've recieved a news that there are no wage hikes for this year, using an alibi of regional wage boards that in fact, like the Labour Department are coddlers of employers and of course Capitalism. Isn't it obvious that their statement is a slap on the faces of the workers, that despite working overnight for a low wage, of saving it for long days just to face increasing prices of commodities and oil? Of fares for transport and Tuition fees for their children? Is the Philippines really experiencing a crisis or inventing a crisis rather to create discontent?

This coming May Day, the laboring people must continue united, to become a genuine militant force facing against the class enemy. We may face repression again and again, but it doesn't mean that the battle will be over. Again, May Day is approaching, and may the laboring people, both in the Philippines and around the world, face the common enemy and avenge after centuries of disenfranchisement and oppression!

CPP sympathizes with families of Filipino workers to be executed in China*

CPP sympathizes with families of Filipino workers to be executed in China*

Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
March 30, 2011

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today expressed sympathy with the families and friends of three Filipino migrant workers who are set to be executed today in China for drug trafficking.

"The planned execution today of Ramon Credo, Elizabeth Batain and Sally Ordinario-Villanueva underscores the plight of millions of Filipino migrant workers who daily suffer grave hardships in different parts of the globe," said the CPP.

The three Filipinos were convicted by Chinese courts for smuggling heroin into China at various times in 2008. They were originally set to be executed February 20 but were granted a brief stay of execution after an appeal by the Philippine government.

"The three Filipinos are victims of a system that has pushed millions to desperate straits," said the CPP. "They suffer extremely exploitative and oppressive conditions in foreign lands because of the lack of domestic employment opportunities."

"They then become easy prey to international and domestic criminal syndicates who are in cahoots with immigration officials who exploit their desperation."

"The Filipino people are dismayed at the failure of the Aquino regime to provide prompt and competent legal and consular assistance and undertake the necessary diplomatic measures to save the lives of Ramon, Elizabeth and Sally," added the CPP. "With Aquino's blunders in his diplomatic relations with China since the Manila hostage-taking incident in August 2010, he is not in any position to assert the interests of the migrant Filipinos."

* Url:http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2011/03/information-bureau-communist-party-of.html