Press Release
April 30, 2009

'Labor Day Amidst Ongoing Recession is Extra Meaningful'
Villar Backs Clamor of Labor Groups for Non-Wage Benefits

Nacionalista Party President Senator Manny Villar said this year's Labor Day celebration in the Philippines and in other parts of the world is extra meaningful amidst the ongoing economic meltdown worldwide.

According to Villar, "The celebration of Labor Day amidst the ongoing recession is extra meaningful. As we are all aware of, so many workers have lost their jobs. The ranks of unemployed continue to soar worldwide. So today's commemoration of Labor Day takes on a whole new meaning, with employed workers thankful for their jobs and the rest of us should continue offering hope to displaced or retrenched workers."

Likewise, the Nacionalista Party president lauded labor groups for deferring their plans to seek wage increases due to the ongoing economic slowdown. Instead workers nationwide asked the government to provide them with non-wage benefits.

"It is a sign of good faith in the part of our workers not to ask for wage increases while the financial crisis is still ongoing. So the government, in good faith, must ensure that their non-wage benefits will be met to help them cope with hardships brought about by the crisis," said Villar.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country's largest labor group, in an interview pointed out their demands on behalf of the Filipino workers all over the country. These include unemployment insurance; moratorium in paying loans from government agencies; lower interest rates for housing loans; scholarships for the children or dependents of retrenched workers; moratorium in increases of tuition fees and house rents, more livelihood and skills training among others.

"I think, the workers' demands are reasonable. The non-wage benefits they are seeking for are crucial in helping them cope with the ongoing crisis. This will alleviate the impact of the crisis on them and their families. It is also a good compromise for their deferment of seeking wage increases," adds Villar.

Villar also thanked business and employers' groups led by the Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECoP) for promising not to lay off workers, but to consider other measures like flexible work arrangements instead, to protect their employees' livelihood until the economic climate improves.

Villar is particularly concerned about helping displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The former Senate president has shouldered expenses in terms of airfare among others of a growing number of OFWs. His foundation also provides livelihood and skills training. On top of this, the Nacionalista Party has a program that provides business capital or funds to entrepreneurs.

News Latest News Feed