National trade union center Kilusang Mayo Uno commemorated the International Workers’ Memorial Day with a protest-exhibit in front of the Philippine General Hospital today.
Workers stressed that Occupational Safety and Health violations be criminalized as the 10th year of the Kentex fire, where 72 workers were killed, nears. Cases tallied by the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Development from January to March total 94 workplace incidents, resulting in 56 deaths and 115 injuries, including 2 construction workers who were buried under a building, 2 housekeepers who died in a condominium fire, and 2 ship welders who were trapped and burned to death in Navotas.
“Maraming manggagawa ang napipilitang tumanggap ng mapanganib na trabaho para lang may mapakain sa kanilang mga pamilya. Krimen dapat ang pagsasangkalan sa buhay ng manggagawa para sa tubo. Dapat ligtas at disente ang trabaho, at may nakabubuhay na sahod ang lahat ng manggagawa!” said KMU Secretary General Jerome Adonis.
(“Too many workers are forced to risk their lives just to put food on the table. Exploiting workers for profit should be a crime. All jobs must be safe, dignified, and come with a living wage.”)
KMU also criticized the government for flaunting its “job creation” programs, which the labor group asserted has been exposed as tokenistic as self-rated poverty rates continue to rise.
“Hindi mapagtatakpan ng Trabaho Para sa Bayan ni Bongbong at ng Job Fairs ng DOLE ang totoong danas ng manggagawa’t mamamayan. Dumarami ang nalulugmok sa kahirapan dahil walang nalilikhang trabaho, at kung meron man ay mapanganib, kontraktwal, walang benepisyo, at mababa ang sahod.” added Adonis.
(“No amount of Trabaho Para sa Bayan or DOLE job fairs can hide the truth — poverty is rising, and most jobs today are insecure, dangerous, and poorly paid“)
KMU slammed the DOLE’s promise of a wage increase in the NCR, claiming that it is a clear attempt at appeasing the growing number of workers supporting the call for a living wage.
“Wala tayong pagpipilian sa ganitong kaayusan ni Bongbong. Kaya mga manggagawa, piliin nating lumaban! Sumama tayo sa Mayo Uno para sa ligtas at disenteng trabaho, at para sa nakabubuhay na sahod – P1200 nationwide!” concluded Adonis.
(“We are left with no choice, but to fight! We call on all workers: join the fight this Mayo Uno for safe and decent jobs, and living wages – P1200 nationwide!”)