Labor group leaders aspiring for a Senate seat vowed to push for workers and people’s rights if elected in the May 2022 polls.
In a press conference of labor leaders, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Chairperson Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog said he will push for a national minimum wage, and to put an end to the practice of contractualization in the country.
“Ang ating panawagan sahod itaas, presyo [ng bilihin] ibaba. Samakatuwid ang hinihiling natin ay pagkakaroon ng national minimum wage para sa lahat ng manggagawa at pagbabasura sa sistema ng kontraktuwalisasyon,” Labog said.
He underscored that part of his platform is to push for labor regularization, both in the public and private sectors.
“Saklaw ng ating mga agenda ang regular at contractual kapwa ng mga manggagawa sa pribado at gobyerno,” he added.
The Anakpawis party-list group has endorsed Labog for a Senate seat.
On the other hand, Atty. Sonny Matula, chairperson of Nagkaisa Labor Coalition and president of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), said he will raise sufficient financial aid for workers, farmers, and urban poor families amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
If elected, Matula said he would push for P10,000 cash aid for poor families, P15,000 production subsidy for farmers and fishermen, and pandemic leaves for those affected by the pandemic.
Also, the FFW president called for the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which he said “victimized” workers, and the enactment of the Union Independence Bill, to stop the interference of foreign unions.
“I-abolish yung NTF-ELCAC na ang naging biktima ay ang manggagawa nito kaya dapat tanggalin na ‘yan , at ipasa yung Union Independence Bill para i-prevent ang panghihimasok ng mga foreign ng mga union na walang kinalaman sa pang-uunyon katulad ng ating nasa security forces at iba pa,” he said.
(Abolish the NTF-ELCAC, and the Union Independence Bill must be passed to prevent the interference of foreign unions that have nothing to do with our security forces.)
Matulas has been named as the 12th Senate bet of Vice President Leni Robredo’s camp for the 2022 polls.
For his part, Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares expressed dismay over rgw drawn-out lockdowns imposed in the country, which resulted in huge jobs loss amid pandemic.
He assured the public that 120,000 mass testing, free vaccines to everyone, and contact tracing of 1:30 ratio will be pushed if he gets elected.
Meanwhile, Colmenares underscored the assertion of the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea.
“Dapat igiit natin ‘yan sa South China Sea at least 12 billion barrels of oil ‘yan, kapag napunta sa atin yan ang libreng edukasyon, ‘yan ang libreng pagamot, ‘yan ang dagdag sahod at marami pang pondo o benepisyo para sa ating manggagawa,” he added.
(We must insist on our right over the South China Sea, which holds, at least, 12 billion barrels of oil enough to give us funds for free education, free medicines, extra wages, and many more potential benefits for our workers.)
The Bayan Muna chairman also called other aspiring candidates to adopt firm stances on labor and contractualization.
“Importante ang plataporma, at [ang pagtugon sa hinaing ng ating mga sektor. Dapat kilatisin din ng lahat ng botante ng lahat ng manggagawa ang track record nila [aspirants],” he added.
(A platform, and a plan to address the grievances of the various sectors are important. All voters must also check the track record of the aspirants.)
Colmenares earlier that said his candidacy was endorsed by the Makabayan Coalition, which is composed of progressive party-list groups. He also ran for senator but lost in the 2019 elections.
Meanwhile, the campaign period for national posts is set from February 8 to May 7, 2022; and for local elective posts is from March to May 7, 2022. Next year’s polls will be held on May 9. —LBG, GMA News
Senatorial bets from labor sector vow to champion workers’ rights
Source: Pinoy Hub News
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