Workers call for ayuda during 15-day MECQ in Mega Manila

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) called on government to distribute aid to workers who will be affected by the return of Metro Manila and nearby regions to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

 

“Now President Duterte has imposed MECQ on Mega Manila, the millions of workers to be affected need a wage subsidy. The medical frontliners’ call for a timeout included the distribution of aid as part of a package of measures to win the war against covid,” stated Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

 

He added that “Together with wage subsidy, workers should also be given a voice in the recalibration of the covid response, specifically on workplace safety and public transportation. For example, the IATF’s controversial no shield/barrier, no back ride policy must be rescinded for being both illogical and unsafe. Likewise the service contracting of PUV’s, including PUJ’s, by employers for safe transport of employees must be allowed and be made mandatory as proposed by the advocacy group MoveAsOne.”

 

PM supported the protest yesterday of the motorcycle riders’ group KAGULONG at the freedom park of the Commission on Human Rights. The group is also a member of the MoveAsOne coalition.

 

The group however slammed Duterte’s criticism of the medical frontliners call. “While the frontliners are relieved by the imposition of MECQ as it allows them a time out, we are concerned that Duterte has threatened them with repression or ‘counter-revolution’ as he called it,” Magtubo explained.

 

He furthered that “With Duterte himself grossly misinterpreting the appeal for a timeout as inciting to revolution, what prevents the Anti-Terrorism Council from similarly treating activism as terrorism and thus protestors subject to warrantless and extended arrest? This episode clearly exposes the clear and present danger of the Anti-Terror Law with its draconian provisions.”

 

PM is reiterating its demand for ayudang sapat para sa lahat. “The no work, no pay policy during the start of the MECQ tomorrow will mean hunger for millions of workers in Mega Manila. All of them should receive a wage subsidy. But since the DOLE and SSS already has the contact details of workers who have received the CAMP and SBWS, then there is no reason for them to immediately be beneficiaries for the duration of the MECQ. The mechanism for distributing aid to the rest of affected workers should be worked out in consultation with organized labor.”

August 3, 2020