KMU slams big co.'s for using job crisis as excuse to contractualize, reduce work hours

Kilusang Mayo Uno warned today against big corporations’ exploitation of the dire employment situation by enforcing baseless retrenchments and labor flex measures.

“Big company owners are taking advantage of the economic downturn to displace or reduce their work force without an ounce of reason at all. They’re making the job crisis a trend – forcefully and purposefully,” said Elmer Labog, KMU Chairperson.

KMU revealed that some displaced workers in the Southern Tagalog region learned that their company, who reportedly closed down due to losses, will only transfer its operations to another province, thereby having the opportunity to replace all regular workers with contractuals.

KMU also lambasted companies who reduce work days or hours of their workers, reasoning out it out as an alternative to completely dismissing them.

“Company owners are propping up their profits amid the economic crisis at the expense of the workers. We cannot accept contractualization, reduction of work days, and other labor flex measures as top alternatives to retrenchments - because only the capitalists’ earnings are saved by these,” Labog added.

“The real motive here is to create a huge reserve of unemployed and  docile, cheap labor who will always be at the mercy of company owners. We urge workers to fight for our right to job security more than ever, we shall not show mercy.” ###