Press Release
May 1, 2019

Choose candidates who have heart for Filipino workers - De Lima

As the world observes Labor Day today (May 1), Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has called on the public to help push for stronger protection of Filipino workers by voting for candidates with genuine concern for laborers' plight in the coming elections.

De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, underscored the importance of electing leaders who can address the labor sector's perennial problems, including contractualization or End of Contract (Endo) labor practice.

"Isang taos-pusong pagpupugay sa ating masisipag at huwarang manggagawa sa buong mundo sa inyong makabuluhang ambag upang maging matatag, hindi lamang ang inyong pamilya, kundi pati ang ating bansa," she said.

"Ngayon po, nalalapit na ang halalan. Nariyan na naman ang mga kandidatong manliligaw para sa inyong boto. Sa nalalabing mga araw, kilalanin natin ang mga pinunong tunay na mapagkakatiwalaan para tugunan ang mga suliranin sa sektor ng paggawa," she added.

De Lima pointed out that in his roughly three years in office, Mr. Duterte has miserably failed to fulfill his electoral promises, notably in "improving labor conditions for Filipino workers" by abolishing all forms of contractualization.

A common yet illegal practice that affect most Filipinos from poor and middle-class families, contractualization saw employment contracts being terminated before the 6th month to avoid giving employees with benefits accorded to regular workers.

Instead of solving the concerns of Filipino workers who are struggling with unjust labor practices, De Lima said Duterte tolerated the influx of Chinese nationals employed and residing in the Philippines which steals jobs away from ordinary Juan dela-Cruzes.

"Balikan po natin: Ano na ang nagawa ng gobyerno ni Duterte makalipas ang halos tatlong taon? Nangyari ba ang ipinagyabang niyang wala na raw kontraktuwalisasyon? Napagaan ba ang buhay ng mga manggagawa sa inaprubahan nilang bagong buwis? Hindi pa nakuntento sa mga pangakong napako, ipinamigay pa ang libo-libong trabaho, hindi sa kapwa Pilipino, kundi sa mga dayuhang Tsino," she said.

"Tandaan natin: Ang mga ganitong baluktot na polisiya ng pamahalaan ay hindi maipapatupad kung wala ang suporta ng mga kaalyado ni Duterte, silang mga hawak niya sa leeg, at sunud-sunuran lang sa dikta ng Malacañang," she added.

The lady Senator from Bicol appealed to her countrymen to support candidates with competence and guts to stand up against Duterte's failed policies even as she urged them to help reveal the true intention of senatorial aspirants who bank on fake promises to gain people's vote.

"Imulat natin ang ating mga kababayan sa mga karakter at kakayahan ng mga tumatakbo, kung sino ang mga protektor ng mga tiwali at kriminal, mga duwag tumindig at tumutol sa pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, teritoryo at trabaho ng mga Pilipino," she said.

"Nasa atin pong mga kamay ang kapangyarihan para muling itama ang landas na tinatahak ng ating bansa. Nagkakaisa nating suportahan ang mga lider na tapat, may paninindigan, at tunay na itataguyod ang kapakanan ng manggagawa," she added.

Last year, De Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 751 urging the appropriate Senate committee to assess the effective implementation of existing immigration and labor laws to ensure that Filipinos are protected against adverse effects caused by immigration surge amid influx of Chinese workers in the country.

News Latest News Feed