Press Release
May 1, 2009

Villar: Pay attention to workers

Let's not abandon the workers.

Nacionalista Party President Senator Manny Villar today urged the Arroyo administration to focus on improving the plight of workers who will bear the brunt of the present global economic meltdown.

"Sana'y huwag naman makalimutan ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan na itulak pataas sa priority list nito ang kapakanan ng mga manggagawa," Villar said.

"Kung ang mga OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) na pinakikibangan ng gobyerno ay palaging namo-problema, eh ano pa kaya ang mga lokal na manggagawa?" Villar asked rhetorically.

Last year, more than 15 billion dollars were remitted by some 9 million OFWs. Villar said if not for them, the country's economy would have not survived.

Villar reminded the government that starting this year, thousands of OFWs are expected to come home as employers abroad are expected to downsize or close down due to global economic slowdown.

This will not only possibly slow down remittances but also pad the number of unemployed in the country.

"Double suffering 'yan on the part of the people, kung mangyayari" the senator said.. "Darami ang bilang ng mga manggagawa, hindi na maiiwasan 'yan."

Villar said the government must not exhaust its efforts on looking for jobs abroad alone, but it must also create jobs domestically and ensure that local workers are compensated fairly.

"Hindi masama ang magkaroon ng available overseas jobs para sa mga Pilipino, pero dapat may choice sila na dito na lang magtrabaho sa Pilipinas," Villar pointed out.

Villar explained that since the labor sector is expected to grow in the next two years because thousands of OFWs are expected to return home, the government must be prepared to give them a fair deal.

"Kapag hindi sila nabigyan ng wastong kita at iba pa ng benepisyo, dadami lalo ang bilang mga magdarahop sa ating bansa," Villar said.

Villar urged the laborers to continue to voice out their sentiments even if the government has opted to turn a deaf ear to their demands.

"Kung hindi mag-iingay ang mga manggagawa, e di lalo silang hindi papansinin ng mga nasa posisyon," Villar said.

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