BMP kay Duterte spokesperson Harry Roque

Pahayag

17 August 2020

SABI NG GRUPONG MANGGAGAWA KAY ROQUE: ANG IYONG TOKSIKONG PAGKA-POSITIBO AY  KAHANGALAN AT NAKAGAGALIT

Tinuligsa ng grupong Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) si Harry Roque, ang tagapagsalita ng pangulo, dahil sa mga komento nito hinggil sa nakaraang SWS survey na nagpapakitang ang 45.5% ng may gulang o adultong Pilipino – o 27.3 milyong katao – ang walang trabaho.

Nakita sa survey – na isinagawa noong Hulyo 3-6 – na 21% ng adulto ay nawalan ng trabaho/ikinabubuhay noong panahon ng krisis ng COVID-19. May 21% pang nawalan ng trabaho/ikinabubuhay bago pa ang pandemya. 

"Habang masaya niyang ipinapahayag ang datos na ang mga nawalan ng trabaho ay hindi umabot sa 100% at sa paggigiit pang ito'y dahil sa ating pagiging may kakayahang umakma sa panahon, grabeng ininsulto ni G. Roque ang 27.3 milyong Pilipinong nawalan ng trabaho na di na malaman ang gagawin kung paano pa mabubuhay sa mga susunod na araw. Ang kanyang toksikong pagka-positibo ay kahangalan at nakakagalit," sabi ni Pangulong Luke Espiritu ng BMP.

Pagkahumaling sa resiliyensa

"Ang nakakasukang pahayag ni G. Roque ay isa na namang pagtatangka ng rehimeng Duterte na balewalain lang ang tindi ng sitwasyong kinakaharap ng milyun-milyong manggagawa habang walang kawawaang tinatapik ang sarili nilang balikat kahit na sila'y walang kakayahang tumugon sa pandemya!" dagdag pa ng abugado ng paggawa.

"Ang datos mula sa SWS ay hindi ebidensya ng kakayahang umakma ng mamamayang Pilipino sa pagtangan sa krisis dulot ng pandemya. Sa halip, patunay ito ng kawalang kakayahan o harapang pagtanggi ng rehimeng Duterte na epektibong matugunan ang kalagayan ng masang manggagawa," sabi pa ni G. Espiritu.

Dati nang kinalampag ng BMP ang mahigpit na programang stimulus ng administrasyong Duterte na layuning tulungan umano ang mga manggagawa at MSME lamang ng P162 Bilyong nakalaan sa Bayanihan to Recover As One 2 (HB 6953) kumpara sa nasa 1 trilyong inirerekomenda ng ilang mga ekonomista, think tanks, at mga unyon sa paggawa.

Malawakang programa ng pampublikong pag-eempleyo

Sinabi pa ni Espiritu na "hindi lang numero ang 45%. Sinasagisag nito ang 27.3 milyong naghihirap na Pilipino. Ang nakakainis pa sa sinabi G. Roque ay hindi lang ang pagwawalang bahala niya sa kahirapan at pagdurusa ng halos kalahati ng bilang ng pwersa ng paggawa, wala rin siyang ipinakitang anumang plano kung paano nila matatakasan ang kanilang paghihirap. Hinggil naman sa plano ng rehimeng Duterte para sa sapat na kapasidad ng ating sistemang pangkalusugan laban sa pandemya, wala silang masabi hinggil sa isang komprehensibong plano upang magkaroon ng ikabubuhay ang mga nawalan ng trabaho."

Isinusulong ng BMP ang isang pampublikong programa sa pag-empleyo na nakaangkla sa pagbuo ng mga trabaho sa mga sektor ng  kalusugan at paggawa ng pagkain ay kinakailangan upang mabawasan ang datos ng nawalan ng trabaho. Binigyang diin din nila na maaari ring bigyang pansin ng programa ang pagbuo ng mga trabahong pangklima, na ang trabaho’y mula sa makatarungang paglipat mula sa maruming fossil fuels tungo sa malinis at nagbabagong enerhiya, mula sa ekolohikal na nakakapinsala't pumipigang industriya ng pag-eksport hanggang sa mga pang-ekonomiyang aktibidad na tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng mamamayan.

"Ang patuloy na ayudang panlipunan para sa mga nagtatrabaho, walang trabaho at maralitang Pilipino ay kinakailangan, kasama ang pampublikong pamumuhunan sa mga estratehikong sektor ng ekonomiya upang lumikha ng trabaho. Upang baligtarin ang tumitinding resesyon, dapat nating baligtarin ang kasalukuyang ekonomyang nakadepende sa pag-import at nakatutok sa pag-eksport tungo sa pagprayoridad ng produksyon at distribusyon ng batayang pangangailangan ng ating mamamayan. Ayuda at trabaho! Unahin ang pangangailangan ng mamamayan!", pagtatapos ni Espiritu. #

Upang makipag-ugnayan, mangyaring kontakin si Luke Espiritu

Labor Group to Roque: Your Toxic Positivity is Toxic and Revolting

Press Release

17 August 2020

LABOR GROUP TO ROQUE: YOUR TOXIC POSITIVITY IS STUPID AND REVOLTING

Labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) lambasted Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque for his comments on the recent SWS survey that showed that 45.5% Filipino adults  - or 27.3 million people - were jobless.

The survey - conducted last July 3-6 - found that 21% of adults lost their job/livelihood during the COVID-19 crisis. Another 21% lost their job/livelihood before the pandemic. 

"By expressing his delight that the unemployment rate did not reach 100% and by further asserting that this was due to our supposed resilience, Mr. Roque deeply insulted the 27.3 million unemployed Filipinos who are currently at a loss on how they are going to survive the foreseeable future. His toxic positivity is stupid and revolting," BMP President Luke Espiritu said.

Resiliency fetish

"Mr. Roque's disgusting remarks is yet another attempt by the Duterte regime to downplay the severity of the situation that millions of workers are facing while also giving themselves an unwarranted pat on the back for their incompetent pandemic response!" the labor lawyer added.

"The data provided by the SWS isn't evidence of the FIlipino people's resiliency in handling the pandemic-induced crisis. Rather, it is evidence of the Duterte regime's inability or blatant refusal to sufficiently address the plight of the working masses," Espiritu said.

The BMP had previously slammed the Duterte administration's stingy stimulus program that aims to aid workers and MSME's only with a mere P162 Billion allocated to the Bayanihan to Recover As One 2 (HB 6953) as opposed to the at least 1 trillion recommended by several economists, think tanks, and trade unions.

Massive public employment program

Espiritu bared that "45% is not just a number. It represents 27. 3 million suffering Filipinos. What makes Mr. Roque's callous indifference more infuriating is not only his disregard to the poverty and misery of the nearly half of the labor force, he also did not present any plan on how to alleviate their suffering. As with the Duterte regime's plans for our health system's sufficient capacitation against the pandemic, they are silent on a comprehensive plan to generate jobs for the unemployed."

The BMP advanced that a public employment program anchored on generating jobs in the healthcare and food-manufacturing sectors would be required to reduce the unemployment rate. They also emphasized that the program could also focus on generating climate jobs, enabling just transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable energy, from ecologically harmful extractive export industries to economic activities that cater to our people's needs.

"Continuous social amelioration for the toiling, unemployed and indigent Filipinos is needed, along with public investment in strategic sectors of the economy to create employment. To reverse the worsening recession, we must reverse the current import-dependent export-oriented economy towards one that prioritizes the production and distribution of the basic needs of our people. Ayuda at trabaho! Unahin ang pangangailangan ng mamamayan!", Espiritu concluded. #

For reference, please contact: Luke Espiritu

BMP: Failure to rescue MSMEs, workers to "empower Oligarchy"

Press Release

15 August 2020

"Stingy stimulus" anti-competitive, labor group 

BMP: Failure to rescue MSMEs, workers to "empower Oligarchy"

Workers group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) hits the P162 billion standby fund allocated to House Bill No. 6953, or the Bayanihan to Recover As One 2, as "too stingy for a stimulus", says that "allowing small business to fail will destroy competition to big business."

"Is that what (Finance Secretary Carlos) Dominguez and Congress wants? To concentrate the remaining market share to the fewer and fewer giant firms controlled by oligarchs?," asked BMP President Luke Espiritu.

Austerity will worsen unemployment crisis

The labor lawyer also said that "austerity will worsen the unemployment crisis", which has climbed to record-breaking 17.7% with 7.3 million unemployed according to the recent data from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

"What is the primary effect of joblessness? More bargaining power for the remaining big firms. They can always say: Stop complaining, I can fire you are and ten jobless workers will compete for your position," Espiritu said.

Espiritu added that "not only capital is concentrated to oligarch corporations as small business fail, the power of these corporations to repress wages is also intensified."

"We are now in an ongoing retrenchment wave. The labor department itself released data that at least 157,705 workers were already displaced from January to August," Espiritu said.

Government can stop recession

Espiritu appeals to the bicameral committee to review the amount and consider other stimulus proposals from worker's groups and other think tanks.

"I do not understand how (Speaker Alan Peter) Cayetano's Congress can go from discussing the P1.3 trillion Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy (ARISE) bill to this pittance," Espiritu said.

Espiritu added that even the National Economic and Development (NEDA) authority itself projects a 5.5% drop in end-year growth rates, "which translates to P960 billion loss in output".

"Shouldn't we at least spend a trillion? The government can practically ensure that there is no recession for this year. And yet it will allow all of us to suffer," Espiritu concluded.##

For reference, please contact: Luke Espiritu

Lorenzana slammed on NCR's 'readiness' for return to GCQ

Press Release

10 August 2020

Lorenzana slammed on NCR's 'readiness' for return to GCQ

Militant labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) rebuked National Task Force Against Covid-19 Chairman Delfin Lorenzana's assertion that Metro Manila is ready to revert to GCQ status once the modified enhanced community quarantine lapses on August 18.

Lorenzana cited yesterday's decline in reported cases to around 3,000 from the 6,263 peak last August 4. He also justified Metro Manila's readiness for GCQ by stating that the economy can no longer suffer.

BMP Chairperson Ka Leody De Guzman queried: "How can Mr. Lorenzana say that we are 'ready' just because of a single-day drop in reported cases? Even to the casual eye the recent Covid-19 data shows that there is no such evidence to say that we are 'ready.' A mere single-day drop in reported new cases (from 4,131 on August 8 to 3,028 yesterday) is not at all encouraging considering that the highest single-day record of new cases (6,263 last August 4) occurred after a much steeper drop (4,953 last August 2 to 3,145 on August 3). Mr. Lorenzana also omitted that the number of daily reported deaths increased from 41 to 61 deaths yesterday." 

"Once again, another former general presuming himself to be a medical expert is endangering Filipinos further with his pompous statements. Simply put, the fluctuating numbers cannot prove that we are in the clear. Furthermore, the Duterte Regime's continuing lack of a comprehensive and coherent plan to combat the pandemic, led by real medical experts and professionals, shows that it is the government that is still unprepared for countering the greatest health and economic crisis our country has ever experienced!" the veteran labor activist contended.

The BMP further argued that Lorenzana's premature judgments reveal his, and by extension, the Duterte Regime's real preoccupation of restarting the economy as opposed to prioritizing the capacitation of our health system against the Covid-19 pandemic.

De Guzman further expounded "who is Lorenzana consulting in making these inane remarks? Capitalists and oligarchs losing profits due to quarantine restrictions, or medical experts and professionals? In their appeals to reopen and prioritize the economy, the Duterte Regime has been consistent with imposing this false dichotomy on the FIlipino working masses: either die by hunger or by Covid-19."

"This false choice they have been peddling is malicious and further demonstrates the gross incompetence of President Duterte and his lackeys - like Lorenzana - in handling this crisis. They continue to ignore the growing number of health experts, economists, trade unions, and civil society organizations asserting that prioritizing the country's health system is a necessary condition for economic recovery. The negative effects caused by quarantine restrictions can be countervailed by utilizing public funds (including the trillions procured from debt) for capacitating the health system and social amelioration for the working poor and unemployed," the labor leader concluded.

The BMP previously asserted in a statement that community quarantine could only work when the following measures are taken:

1. Mandating of paid quarantine leaves to workers for the entire duration of the ECQ;

2. Sufficient and unconditional social amelioration programs for all those affected by the ECQ;

3. Free mass testing, efficient contact tracing, and more isolation centers;

4. Rechanneling of public funds into capacitating health system;

5. Active hiring and regularization of public health workers;

6. Tapping trade unions and community organizations in implementing community quarantine.## 

For reference, please contact: Leody De Guzman

Union to defy employer's back-to-work order, demands factory disinfection and occupational safety before resumption of production

Press Release

May 18, 2020

UNION TO DEFY EMPLOYER'S BACK-TO-WORK ORDER, DEMANDS FACTORY DISINFECTIONS AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY BEFORE RESUMPTION OF PRODUCTION

The labor union at Everbright Net and Twine, a rope manufacturer located at Edison Ave., in Sun Valley Paranaque, has resisted the back-to-work order of their employer, citing the need for factory disinfection and occupational safety measures before returning to work.

The union is an affliate of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reform (SUPER) Federation.

The Everbright workers did not receive any amelioration from DOLE-CAMP despite the application of their employer last March.

Teddy Fernandez, president ng Lakas Manggagawa sa Everbright-SUPER said, "Walang manggagawa na nais tumigil sa trabaho lalupa hindi naman pinaghandaan ng gobyerno ang ayuda para sa manggagawa nang biglaan nitong ipatupad ang lockdown. Halos lahat ng pangangailangan namin ay kailangang bilhin, at para magkaroon ng pambili, kailangan naming ibenta ang aming lakas-paggawa kapalit ng sweldo. Subalit kung mapepeligro naman ang manggagawa (kasama ang kanyang pamilya, na maaring mahawa sa kanya dahil sa COVID19) dahil sa kanyang pagtatrabaho, nawawalan ng saysay ang trabaho. Imbes na maging hanapbuhay, ito ay nagiging hanap-patay. Hindi kami magdadalawang-isip na maglunsad ng mass action para sa mass testing".

Fernandez added, "Nagkaisa na ang lahat ng manggagawa. Huwag na munang pumasok ngayon. Sundin muna ang guidelines ng syudad ng Paranaque na dapat sumailalim muna ang lahat ng papasok sa rapid testing sa sakit na COVID19".

BMP and SUPER president Luke Espiritu asserted, "We commmend the LGU of Paranaque for having the political will to impose mandatory mass testing of employees before any resumption of company operations. It is a far-cry from the lame DTI-DOLE guidelines on workplace prevention and control of COVID19, which places the conduct of mass testing by employers as a mere option". Section 7 of the DTI/DOLE guidelines states that "employers may test workers for COVID19".

Espiritu expounded, "But we are not surprised, after all DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez is a dyed-in-the-wool capitalist having served as underboss of RFM CEO and billionaire Joey Concepcion. The trade secretary shares the same elitist breeding with his boss, who now serves as advisor to Duterte and was quoted for saying that the poor are resilient to sickness because of their daily and prolonged exposure to risks".

"For employers like Lopez and Concepcion, precautionary measures for worker protection and safety are an added and unnecessary expense. Yet, it is optional for employers in order to showcase their alleged benevolence as philanthropists," the labor leader explained.

The BMP is pushing for mandatory measures such as mass testing and adequate medical facilities for workers, continued distribution of amelioration and relief packages to the poor (including workers who are permanently and temporarily displaced by the COVID19 quarantine), strict compliance to occupational safety and work standards, hazard pay, quarantine leaves and transportation allowance. The group also called for the setting up near-workplace accommodation for employees to minimize their mobility and possible exposure to the SARS-COV2 virus.

Espiritu furthered, "Local trade union leaders could easily see through the shameless profiteering by abusive employers, who have neither regard nor care for the welfare of their workers, in spite of the life-threatening COVID19 pandemic. The propertied are again playing on the desperation of the toiling and impoverished masses, not for the so-called revival of the economy, but for the unfettered creation of profit, rent, interest, taxes for the entire capitalist class".

"The refusal to work by the Everbright labor union is portent of things to come. Workers may invoke their right to refuse unsafe work in order to prevent the worse case scenario, not only to save their families from the deadlier second wave of COVID19 deaths and transmissions but also to save our medical frontliners and health care. Such noble acts of selflessness are more innate to the working class than to employers who are bred in the dog-eat-dog world of mindless capitalist competition". #

Ang Totoong Kahulugan ng MECQ/GCQ/MGCQ: HANAPBUHAY MAGIGING "HANAP-PATAY" DAHIL SA KAPALPAKAN NI DUTERTE SA COVID-19

BMP-PLM-SANLAKAS Polyeto MAYO 14, 2020

(Maari rin basahin dito: bit.ly/PolyetoMay142020)

Ang Totoong Kahulugan ng MECQ/GCQ/MGCQ:

HANAPBUHAY MAGIGING "HANAP-PATAY" DAHIL SA KAPALPAKAN NI DUTERTE SA COVID-19

DALAWANG buwan nang gutom at bilasa ang mamamayang pwersahang tumigil sa trabaho dahil sa lockdown. Kwarantina na una’y sa Kamaynilaan lamang hanggang sa sumaklaw sa buong Luzon, at kinalauna’y ipinataw sa buong kapuluan.

Ngayon, nag-anunsyo na ang Palasyo na paluluwagin ang mga restriksyon. Mula sa ECQ ay magiging MECQ, GCQ, MGCQ . Marami ang nag-akala makakahinga na sila ng maluwag. Tila sinasabi, “Sa wakas, makapaghahanapbuhay na. Mas mainam ang nagtatrabaho kaysa naghihintay sa walang kasiguruhang ayuda”.

Naiintindihan natin ang desperasyon ng maraming Pilipino. Subalit nagpapayo tayo ng paghuhunos-dili sa ating mga kauri at kababayan: huwag maging kampante at huwag maliitin ang banta ng COVID19.

Tayo ay nagtatrabaho para sa ating mga mahal sa buhay. Para tugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan. Maraming Pilipino - laluna sa sahurang manggagawa - ay ginagawang tiisin ang mababang sweldo, kontraktwalisasyon, at di-makataong kondisyon sa pagtatrabaho. Ito ang desperasyong inaasahan ng rehimeng Duterte at mga kapitalista para diumano’y “paandarin muli ang ekonomya”. Desperasyon para huwag nating pansinin ang peligrong dulot ng pandemyang COVID19, alang-alang sa kakarampot na sweldo habang nililikha natin ang tubo para sa kapitalista, ang interes para sa bangkero, ang renta para sa kapitalistang landlord at maging ang buwis para sa pamahalaan.

Nais nating ipaalala sa manggagawa’t mamamayan na kailangang patuloy na igiit ang "Kaligtasan, Kabuhayan, Kapakanan at Kapangyarihan para sa manggagawa't mamamayan". Kung hindi natin patuloy na ipaglalaban ang sumusunod na kahilingan, ang mangyayari sa atin ay HANAP-PATAY hindi hanapbuhay!

MASS TESTING, REKURSO AT PASILIDAD PANGKALUSUGAN: Nananatiling bulag tayong lahat sa totoong kalagayan sa kontaminasyon ng COVID19. Patuloy ang pagdami ng bilang ng kaso habang 'di maasahan ang datos na inilalathala. Sa kasalukuyan, mahigit 11,000 ang naitalang kaso ng COVID19 kung saan mahigit 2,000 pa lamang ang nakakarecover at 750 na ang namatay. Kinakailangang matukoy kung sino ang mga may-sakit para mabukod sila at mapigilan ang paghawa sa iba pa. Makupad pa ang inilulunsad na “mass testing” sapagkat tatlumpu (30) pa lamang ang DOH-accredited testing center sa bansa. Sa dalawang buwan na lumipas, 0.1% pa lamang ng buong populasyon ang dumaan sa naturang eksaminasyon. Asahan nating tataas pa ang bilang ng mga kaso habang tumataas ang kakayahan sa mass testing at pagluluwag para sa "ekonomya".

Nakakabahala ang magiging second at third wave ng kontaminasyon na maaring magdulot ng pagbagsak sa ating naghihingalo nang health care system. Kulang ang mga pasilidad pang-kwarantina. Nasa mahigit 11,000 lamang ang dedicated hospital beds, tiyak na kulang kung mangyayari ang second wave. Isang libo lamang ang kwarto para sa para sa malubhang mga kaso(ICU). Gayundin ang mechanical ventilator, na kailangang sa paghinga ng may malubhang pulmonya dulot ng COVID19. Napakarami ring ospital ang nagrereklamo sa kakulangan ng suplay sa PPE (personal protective equipment), na lubhang peligroso sa ating mga medical frontliner.

AYUDA SA LAHAT: Mananatili ang mga restriksyon sa ilalim ng MECQ, GCQ at MGCQ. Sa kabila nito, halos lahat ng industriya ay papayagan nang magbukas. Sa MECQ, kalahati (50%) lamang ng mga empleyado ang maaring pumasok sa pabrika, opisina, at iba pang lugar ng pagtatrabaho at di pa rin pahihintulutan ang pampublikong transportayon. Sa GCQ, ito ay nasa tatlo sa bawat apat na empleyado (75%). Sa MGCQ, papayagan ang panunumbalik sa full operation (100%).

Ibig sabihin, sa maraming establisyemento, ang ipapatupad ng mga employer ay rotasyon o pagbabawas ng araw ng trabaho sa isang linggo. May ilang industriya din ang siguradong magtatanggal ng manggagawa o magsasara gamit ang dahilan na pagkalugi.

Sa GCQ at MGCQ, papayagan ang pampublikong transportasyon ngunit limitado lamang ang maaring sumakay sa dahil sa physical distancing na tiyak kabawasan sa kita ng mga tsuper. Dagdag rito, ang mga lumang jeepney na hindi nagpailalim sa mga kooperatiba o korporasyon ay di na papayagang bumiyahe. Ang mga bus na di modernisado ang pagbabayad ay 'di rin makakabyahe. Samakatuwid, daan libong mga tsuper at konduktor ay wala pa ring kikitain. Bagsak din ang kita ng iba pang nasa informal sector - manininda sa bangketa at palengke, maliliit na mangangalakal, atbp., dahil bukod sa marami mananatiling ipagbabawal, ang kanilang kabuhayan ay karugtong ng ekonomikong aktibidad ng mga sumasahod na mababawasan o matatanggal sa trabaho.

Ang masakit, nabawasan o nawalan man ng kinikita, lahat tayo ay bubulagain ng due date ng mga nabibinbing bayarin dahil matatapos na ang ekstensyon sa pagbabayad ng upa, tubig, kuryente, internet, atbp. Ang masaklap pa, ang mga 'di nakatanggap at nakatanggap ng SAP sa labas ng Kamaynilaan, Cebu City at probinsya ng Laguna, ay di na bibigyan ng ikalawang bugso na malinaw na ipinangako ni Duterte at nakasaad sa kanyang Bayanihan o BAHO Act.

Samakatuwid, ang netong epekto nito ay pangkalahatang pagbagsak sa sahod at kita ng manggagawa, sa formal at informal sector. Makatarungang igiit pa rin “ayuda para salahat”. Hindi lamang dahil obligasyon ng gobyerno ang unahin ang kapakanan ng kanyang mamamayan. Mas lalong higit, ang anumang muling pagpapaandar sa ekonomya ay dapat naikinukunsidera ang paggawa, nasiyang pangunahing panlipunan at pang-ekonomyang pwersa ng ating lipunan.

BALIK TRABAHONG LIGTAS: Sigurado tayong maraming employer ang lalabag sa inutos na mga patakaran para sa “occupational health and safety” ng kanilang mga manggagawa. Dagdag gastos kasi ang turing dito ng mga kapitalista. Kaya naman, krusyal na usapin sa balik-trabaho (hindi balik-probinsya dahil ang kalakhan ng trabaho ay nasa sentrong urban ng Region 3, Region 4A, NCR, Region 7, at iba pa) ay ang responsibilidad ng gobyerno na mapasunod ang mga may-ari ng negosyo sa patakaran at ang karapatan ng manggagawa na magreklamo sa magiging paglabag dito ng mga kapitalista. Subalit sa DO213 ng DOLE, sinuspinde ang lahat ng inspeksyon, hearing sa labor cases, atbp., sa buong panahon ng kwarantina. Dahil anuman sa MECQ, GCQ, o MGCQ ay quarantine areas, hindi makakapagreklamo ang mga manggagawa sa buong bansa!

Mga kauri at kababayan! Manatiling kritikal at mapagmatyag sa mga nangyayari sa lipunan. Huwag hayaang ang panunumbalik sa trabaho o paghahanapbuhay dahil sa MECQ, GCQ, MGCQ ay mauwi sa pangkakanya-kanya at pagsasawalang-kibo. Trilyon-trilyon ang pondo ng gobyerno para tugunan ang COVID19 (mula sa pagkonsentra ng pera sa Executive dulot ng BAHO Act hanggang sa bilyong dolyar na grant at loan na nakuha ng gobyerno sa World Bank (WB) at Asian Development Bank (ADB). Kung tayo ay mananahimik, ang napakalaking pondong ito ay mapapakinabangan ng mga burukrata sa gobyerno. At kahit hindi tayo nakinabang dito, tiyak na kasama ang manggagawa’t mamamayan sa pagbabayad at pagtustos sa naturang pondo sa anyo ng buwis. Ang siste, ginawang rason ang kalusugan ng mamamayan para magkamal ng pondo subalit hindi naman ginamit ang pondo para labanan ang salot na COVID19 na banta sa kalusugan ng mga Pilipino.

Ituloy ang pangangalampag para sa ating kaligtasan, kabuhayan, kapakanan at kapangyarihan. Mag-ingay at singilin ang rehimeng Duterte sa mga kapabayaan, kapalpakan, at karahasan nito sa manggagawa’t mamamayang Pilipino. #

MASS TESTING PAIGTINGIN!

AYUDA PARA SA LAHAT IPAGPATULOY!

BALIK-TRABAHONG LIGTAS PARA SA MANGGAGAWA!

SERBISYONG PANLIPUNAN HINDI PANGGIGIPIT at KARAHASAN!

PANAGUTIN ang REHIMENG DUTERTE!

BMP – PLM – SANLAKAS

Mayo 14, 2020

Modified ECQ is out to save profit margins while sacrificing workers' rights, health and welfare

Press Release

13 May 2020

LABOR GROUP: MODIFIED ECQ IS OUT TO SAVE PROFIT MARGINS WHILE SACRIFICING WORKERS' RIGHTS, HEALTH, AND WELFARE

The Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) reproached the Duterte Administration's decision to ease the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in most provinces by allowing select industries to resume operations without sufficient mass testing and adequate health facilities.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced yesterday that starting May 15 NCR, Laguna Province, and Cebu City would transition to Modified ECQ while several other provinces will be placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Modified GCQ until May 31.

Under Modified ECQ, aside from essential industries, certain manufacturing and processing industries shall be allowed to resume operations at half capacity, while more businesses will be allowed to reopen at 75% and full capacity under GCQ and Modified GCQ respectively.

BMP President Luke Espiritu said, “President Duterte has yielded to the lobby by capital and technocrats, who have been pushing for the resumption of business since late March. They do not intend to “flatten the curve” of COVID19 transmissions and mortality rates. They are more concerned with the flattening of the GDP growth rate, which at the establishment-level is reflected by flat-lining profit margins”.

The labor leader cited the latest data of DOH, which showed that mass testing has only reached 0.1% of the population. He added, “We are virtually blind to the real extent of contamination to the deadly novel coronavirus. A second wave of transmission, with the resumed mobility of the working population, will deliver the death blow to our already frail and failing health care systems”.

The BMP revealed that renewed outbreaks in South Korea, China, and Germany - countries that were praised earlier for their handling of the pandemic - should make the government more cautious rather than eager to ease quarantine.

“Most workers may actually support the easing of the quarantine restrictions without regard to their own personal safety. We appeal to the toiling majority to exercise caution and to refrain from reckless abandon. Capital is again playing on the desperation of the propertyless masses. Our mostly unorganized and non-unionized labor force is willing to endure starvation wages, contractualization and unsafe working conditions to provide for the basic needs of their families before the onslaught of COVID19. Now, capitalists are banking on the amplified misery and distress of a quarantined population, who now seek employment without regard to their own safety and welfare,” Espiritu clarified.

He added, “With the easing of the restrictions without sufficient mass testing and adequate health and safety protocols, workers would be sacrificial lambs to the altars of profit. After all, they could easily be replaced by the unemployed millions - the reserve labor force - who could easily be called upon for active yet contractual economic service, at lower wages. To them, falling profit margins are more alarming than rising mortality rates”.

SUSPENDING WORKERS' RIGHTS AND DISPENSE OF LABOR JUSTICE

In a previous statement, the BMP criticized the return-to-work guidelines issued by the DOLE and DTI for not instituting active monitoring and corresponding penalties to employers who do not ensure the safety of their employees.

Further, the BMP warned against the recent D.O. 213, issued by Labor Secretary Bello last May 5, which suspended all labor inspections, hearings, labor standards cases, and other legal proceedings until the lifting of the quarantine period. Espiritu asserted, “It is tantamount to not only to the virtual abolition of the workers’ right to complain against employers who would violate the return-to work guidelines, it would likewise undermine the dispense of justice to workers who are disadvantaged by prolonged and protracted legal battles”.

The socialist labor group also reacted to a statement by Malacanang spokesperson Harry Roque, who said that only families living in areas that remain under ECQ will receive the second tranche of cash aid.

Espiritu concluded, "The unfavorable odds are stacked against Filipino workers. They are stripped of the right to compel their employers to follow health protocols and labor standards. Half are being compelled to return to work without mass testing, sufficient medical resources, and hazard pay. The other half has been disqualified from receiving any economic relief from government. Now, with the reckless reopening of businesses, we are facing the mass murder of the Filipino working class under the guise of saving workers’ incomes but, in truth, is no other than the salvaging of falling rates of profit”!