Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) rejected as “a stupid idea” the proposal to impose a four-day, 10-hour work week nationwide, both for government and the private sector. Read the rest of this entry »

REAL wages in the Philippines have stagnated over the past two decades as the monopolies have been taking advantage of the large supply of job seekers fighting for a few jobs in the country, the Asian Development Bank says in a report. Read the rest of this entry »

July 27, 2011, Manila–”There is no other appropriate, fair and meaningful path toward sustainable development than green jobs and decent work”, emphasized Mr. Rafael Mapalo, TUCP’s Director for Education, who presented TUCP’s sustainable development initiatives during the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development’s (PCSD) 1stNational Forum on Countdown to Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development on July 27, 2011, Manila, Philippines.

He said that the occasion reminded him of 2007 when TUCP affiliates and members decided to carry out non-traditional (trade unions’)ambitious sustainable development actions and activities.

“We wanted to engage in practically everything”, Mr. Mapalo said.TUCP had planned to lead unions in growing of crops on idle public and private lands for local and export markets; reforesting parks, watersheds, denuded hills and planting trees; residuals management (pollution control);environmental sanitation programs; and building communities through sustainable livelihood projects, training and employment placement programs.

“We recognized that implementing these plans will not be easy. But through the combined efforts, resources and expertise of our affiliates and partners, we were able to realize what we set out (in 2007) to achieve and more”, exclaimed Mr. Mapalo.

Some of these modest accomplishments include TUCP affiliates’ projects in conservation of marine ecosystems, reforestation and tree planting; filed and co-authored five (5) measures — on integrated coastal management, proper disposal of asbestos, regulating the production, importation, sale, use and recycling of plastic bags, establishing the people’s survival fund, and promoting soil and water conservation technologies; free skills training through the TUCP Workers’ College (for in-demand jobs); employment facilitation assistance for trainees; socio-economic (sustainable livelihood) projects for members and their families; and environmental education and capacity development for workers.

“These are just a few examples of how unions, despite meager resources,are making real, concrete and sustainable solutions to some of the country’s environmental problems”, Mr. Mapalo noted.

He added that alongside sustainable development, TUCP is giving an equal attention to ensure that our and actionsand practices of others should be guided by the principle of “Just Transition” –a wholistic, inclusive, and sustainable process that covers and addresses vulnerability assessment, social protection, decent work, policies, training and education towards green jobs and greener practices and adaptation/mitigation measures for vulnerable communities and sectors.

“We were told that we have too ambitious goals, but TUCP refused to remain a bystander. And just as we proudly did in 2007, we will not let this momentum pass without renewed action”, Mr. Mapalostressed.

In closing, he called upon the tripartite sectors, including civil societyand other stakeholders to rise to the challenge as one united body. “The trade union movement is committed to supporting more ambitious actions towards a truly sustainable development where social dimensions and broader environmental challenges are also addressed”, he concluded.

Other discussants include representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Climate Change Commission (CCC), Lingkod Tao Kalikasan (civil society), and Philippine Business for the Environment (business).

A study by the Asian Development Bank found that the Philippines has one of the highest tax rates in Asia, but the country’s untaxed underground economy is also among the largest in the world. Read the rest of this entry »

PEOPLE POWER: This culture of blame, which has become as prevalent as it is pernicious, explains why Filipinos celebrate every time an NPA Sparrow Unit assassinates notoriously corrupt government officials, abusive “matons,” a tyrannical hacendero, or undisciplined military men. Read the rest of this entry »

(Reader Luis Olitoquit asked me on Twitter yesterday about a Postscript written some 10 years ago. Digging up my ManilaMail.com archive, I found the piece — “The Religion of Blame” which analyzes our penchant for blaming others for our own failures. I’m rerunning it below for its relevance to our present state. This item appeared in the pinoycityusa website in 2002, its author unidentified. It was posted by a certain L. Sibal.) Read the rest of this entry »

THE Social Security System plans to raise membership dues in the next two years in a bid to lengthen the pension fund’s actuarial life and provide better returns to beneficiaries.

Emilio de Quiros Jr., SSS president and chief executive officer, said membership dues will be increased by a percentage point in 2013 and every two years thereafter. Read the rest of this entry »

MANILA, Philippines – Earnings of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector jumped 50 percent in the first quarter of the year due to higher net receipts in computer and information and other business services, particularly miscellaneous business, professional and technical services. Read the rest of this entry »

A BOOMING stock market has expanded the Philippines’ billionaires list to a record 11, with the combined wealth of the 40 richest also hitting an all-time high, Forbes.com said on Thursday.

Shopping mall king Henry Sy, 86, saw his assets surge 44 percent to $7.2 billion over the past year and remains the Philippines’ richest man, the website said in its annual update of the country’s wealthiest. Read the rest of this entry »

LAST May 24, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) launched the 2nd MAP CSR Leadership Challenge. MAP began the Challenge in 2009 to encourage its members to embrace CSR and go beyond the customary corporate philanthropy that we see. MAP President Felino “Jun” Palafox has explained that the Challenge “aims to promote CSR as an important and integral part of good management practice, inspire MAP members and other top executives to improve their practice and set the bar for the practice of CSR in the country, and recognize companies that exemplify what it means to be a true corporate citizen through their CSR programs.” During the first Challenge, Manila Water won the main award for having CSR programs that were most integrated into its core business. Companies were also awarded based on specific CSR achievements, such as Union Bank in education and Globe Telecom in enterprise development. Read the rest of this entry »