Emergency jobs will trap typhoon victims into poverty – KMU

Workers picket DOLE over inutile calamity response

Workers led by Kilusang Mayo Uno and Anakpawis Partylist picketed today the labor department to slam its vain efforts to project to the public that it is assisting calamity-stricken workers, saying providing emergency jobs for only around 1,450 affected workers all over Luzon is an incorrect response to the calamity.

KMU said the government’s emergency employment program in the aftermath of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” will create poverty traps for typhoon victims, as it will transform workers displaced – temporarily or permanently – from their regular jobs into short-term wage earners.

“Consistent with its promotion of precarious work despite the economic slump, the Arroyo regime has even used the grave damage wrought by the typhoons to transform regular workers into contractual and low-paid ones. This scheme certainly leaves us more vulnerable to the effects of calamities and the worsening economic crisis,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.

“With the expiration of emergency work, how can you expect jobless and homeless workers to rebuild their lives with only around P5,730 after the 15-day cleanup and declogging operations? Can you expect them to find decent work when the government itself consistently promotes poor quality and low-earning jobs? This regime is really keeping us mired in poverty rather than assisting in the recovery,” he added.

Other efforts

KMU also criticized the other efforts that were undertaken by the DOLE in response to the recent calamity – in particular, the DOLE’s request to employers to help their workers.

“This is nothing but lip service. The small and medium-scale Filipino businessmen who are willing to heed this call seem unable to provide assistance to workers because they too have been hit by the calamity. On the other hand, while big-time entrepreneurs are capable of assisting their workers, they seldom act without compulsion from the government and workers,” said Labog.

Rep. Joel Maglunsod of Anakpawis Partylist said workers who were displaced from their jobs in the wake of “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” should be given decent and stable work, not short-term jobs.

“Before bragging about helping workers recover from the disaster, the Arroyo regime should first see to it that workers who were laid off must be employed in permanent jobs. It is their best guarantee for recovery and best protection from the ill effects of future calamities,” said Maglunsod.

According to Maglunsod, direct cash assistance should be provided to workers by the government, instead of just encouraging employers to assist calamity-stricken workers.

“What workers need at this point is direct and speedy assistance that will enable them to meet their basic needs in the face of the severe damage wrought by typhoons,” Maglunsod said.

KMU also described the deployment of only 40 nurses to typhoon-affected barangays in Metro Manila as “a crude response that ironically speaks of the labor export policy which has drained health workers and professionals in the country.” #