Prelate exhorts pols to address labor woes
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines President (CBCP) and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said the condition of workers should be one of the concerns addressed to the candidates running for positions in all levels of government during the campaign period.
In his one-page Labor Day message sent by e-mail, Lagdameo pointed to the worsening unemployment problem of the country which he said should be addressed whoever wins in the May 14 elections.
"We may have many good laws that are "pro-workers", but how many of them are still waiting for implementation? The poverty level of labor could be a sign (one anyway) indicating the genuine level of economy," said Lagdameo.
Citing news reports, the prelate said that while the government claims to have generated from 2001 to the present, a study has showed that the jobless reached 3.9 million on January 2006 and are still increasing while another 5.4 million Filipinos are underemployed.
"We hope that the future leaders of our country -- from the bottom up -- in solidarity with the business sector, will ensure through implementation of just legislation the workers' rights as well as the just development of the world of work," said Lagdameo.
The prelate praised the workers for their hard work and sacrifices especially those working abroad.
"Overseas work has helped to a great extent the Philippine economy by mitigating the employment problem in the country. As of 2004 the overseas Filipino workers totaled 8 million. It is an accepted fact, their remittances have provided an important source of income for a great number of Filipino families," said Lagdameo.
He said the the workers could be considered "genuine servants of the state."
They are the hands and feet, even to some extent the mind and the soul, of production. On them too rest the rise and fall of economy. The condition of labor is probably a key to the question of social progress."
He said the condition of the labor force is a gauge of the country's poverty level.
"In some real sense, the primary basis for the value of work is the worker himself. As the classic saying goes: 'Work is for man, not man for work.' Every human being achieves fulfillment by working for himself and his family and then for the great society whose life he participates in."
He said workers should have the means to support themselves and their families. Solidarity among workers and with business owners should be promoted to ensure the protection of mutual rights, said Lagdameo.
But he said the rights of workers should be given priority over business interest.
"While approaching and advocating the ideal situation of solidarity and communion between labor and businessmen, still the 'priority of labor over capital' should be accepted as a fundamental and classic principle. This is based on the principle of the 'primacy of man over things' -- such as, science and technology, the instruments of work, money, profit, which are thought of as capital."