We are Women, We are the Agenda – Partido Manggagawa

Women workers and poor led by the labor partylist group Partido Manggagawa (PM) marched in Mall of Asia and Mendiola today together with other feminist organizations to commemorate International Women's Day.

The agonies of having to endure ages of physical and emotional violence and living under the pain of deprivation due to economic marginalization are problems unique to women and that these problems should have long been addressed by the past and present administrations. 

 

But for PM, the official theme for this year’s Women Day celebration,“Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda,” speaks for itself:  Women remain at the margins and the call to include their agenda in this coming elections is an admission of repeated neglect recited creatively in positive tones.

 

“Bakit isali lang sa agenda gayong ang kababaihan mismo ang dapat agenda?  Women in production and reproduction suffer the worst kind of injustice in this country.  Aside from violence women also assumed the burden of dealing with poverty and poor delivery of social services such as high prices of goods, taking care of their sick and sending their children to school  without or short of basic provisions, among others,” stated PM Secretary General and partylist nominee, Judy Ann Miranda.

 

Miranda led the PM contingent who joined the local women activities held at the seaside grounds of a mall in Pasay, organized by the Samahang Magkakapitbahay sa Lungsod ng Pasay.   In her speech after the marches and Zumba dancing in Pasay, Miranda called on women living in poor communities to collectively pursue demands for decent jobs, universal healthcare,  facilities for child care, and even for free public laundry systems.

 

Aside from the Pasay activity, PM members also joined other groups in separate marches to Mendiola organized by the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and Women March.

 

PM, which is running under the partylist election this May, explained that half (50%) of the country’s women working population (compared to 20 percent among men) remain inactive member of the labor force because of lack of jobs and the traditional pull of domestic work. The unemployment rate for women is also higher (35.9% in SWS 2013 survey) compared to men (21.2%).   Accordingly, the informal economy is made up mostly of women working in underpaid, irregular jobs of different types. 

 

“Kung hindi magbabago ang ganitong sitwasyon, si Juana ay mananatiling tagasilbi lang sa bahay.  Or once semi-skilled or unskilled women are given the chance to land a job, they are relegated to meticulous but low paying, contractual jobs in the service sector, or brave serving as contractuals in risky domestic work abroad,” added Miranda.

 

The partylist group said it is under this condition that women workers should be accorded decent jobs in the country and to have access to a wide range of social services and social protection such as reproductive healthcare, childcare facilities, and other forms of social security insurance, including living pension for elderly women.

March 8, 2016

Workers Digest 44: International Women's Day issue

Post-Women’s Day Action: Women workers lead caravan to Cavite vs. high prices, endo jobs

Press Release

March 10, 2012

PALEA

Women members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA), Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Rosario Workers Association (RWA) and United Cavite Workers Association (UCWA) led a caravan today against high prices and contractual work.

The caravan vs. high prices and endo (end of contract) jobs is an extension of the observance of International Women’s Day and an anticipation of the Labor Day commemoration. “The high cost of living and the proliferation of contractual work is a double whammy on workers in general and women in particular,” asserted Arlene Ladimo of PALEA Women’s Committee.

PM is proposing that government end the policy of deregulation of the oil industry to control the runaway prices and renationalize Petron to promote competition among the big players.

The caravan left the PALEA protest camp at the In-Flight Center of Philippine Airlines (PAL) at noon and passed through the densely populated areas of Paranaque, Las Pinas, Bacoor and Noveleta before finishing at the industrial town of Rosario. A highlight of the caravan was the salubungan around 2:00 pm at the main gate of the Cavite Ecozone where Cavite workers organized by the RWA and UCWA met the contingent from Metro Manila.

“The three demands of women workers last Women’s Day and for Labor Day as well are the lowering of prices, an end to endo jobs and additional budget for social services. These measures will lighten the double burden of women workers who not only labor in their places of work but also slave in unpaid domestic work in their houses,” explained Judy Ann Miranda, PM Secretary-general.

Next week PALEA continues with mass actions in time for the 71^st anniversary of PAL on March 15. The union is planning rallies at PAL offices and the Allied Bank building in Ayala where Lucio Tan holds office.

“PNoy believed the spin that PAL is losing money and thus allowed the mass layoff and job outsourcing plan despite the flag carrier’s P3 billion profit in its latest fiscal year. Now it is as clear as day that Lucio Tan instead of becoming poorer has become even richer to the tune of $3.5 billion from last year’s $2.8 billion as per the Forbes list of billionaires. But Lucio Tan wants to catch up with Henry Sy, the richest Filipino and number one promoter of contractualization, by implementing the outsourcing scam at PAL,” insisted Ladino.

Women workers run for gender and labor justice on 101st Women’s Day

PRESS RELEASE

Partido ng Manggagawa

PALEA Women’s Committee

8 March 2012

To cap the weeklong commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) by the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) women members held a women run for gender justice and labor justice, 6:00am at Ayala, Makati City, wreath-laying at Gabriela Silang monument at Ayala corner Makati Avenue, then proceeded to Allied Bank along Ayala Avenue.

“The Women Run for Gender Justice and Labor Justice is a celebration of the inseparability of the fight for women’s rights and workers rights.  IWD in fact started in honor of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York. While much has been achieved by women in general, for women workers the sweatshop conditions of the 1900’s is still the norm in factories, shops, offices and farms as capitalist globalization rolls back the gains of the labor movement even as gender equality and reproductive health remains crucial concerns,” asserted Judy Ann Miranda of PM.

 Ms. Miranda added that, “On this occasion, other concerns that we also want to give emphasis to are women’s right to equal work opportunity, a concrete solution to high prices of basic commodities,  additional budget for social services, and passage of the RH bill.”

PM and PALEA further explained that women’s labor force participation rate in our country has remained, more or less, at 50% and the reason for this is the tremendous lack of job opportunities for women.  This reality is taking a big toll on the bodies and minds of women who have been more burdened by poverty, high prices, and lack of crucial services such as health, housing, among others.

“To DOLE Secretary Baldoz and PNoy, we refuse to listen to more of your promises, lies and deception.  Araw namin  ito, so this time, you listen to our demands and act on them as sincere public officials should do,” declared Arlene Ladimo of PALEA.  To symbolize women workers’ refusal to listen to mere promises but rather be heard, they did an Aguirre (prosecution lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre, Jr.) by covering their ears for a few minutes. 

“We have been lied to when we sought the President’s help vs. Lucio Tan’s outsourcing and contractualization scheme of PAL employees and PNoy said this is within the bounds of law.  Thousands were duped to take up nursing with promises of jobs abroad – the other day, Secretary Baldoz are calling on them to work at call centers, etc., etc.  We want jobs, not just any job but regular and decent jobs, we want lower prices of basic goods, and more budget for social services.  ‘Yan ang ibigay ninyo dahil ‘yan ang kailangan namin,” continued Ms. Ladimo.

After the Women Run at Ayala, Makati, the PALEA and PM women members held a motorcade to Mendiola and joined the World March of Women in a traditional rally. Yesterday they held a “Kalbaryo ng Kababaihan” to highlight the 101 burdens of women as a way of focusing attention on the pressing concerns on the 101st anniversary of IWD.

Women workers hold “Kalbaryo ng Kababaihan”

PALEA women power on the march

PRESS RELEASE

Partido ng Manggagawa (PM)

PALEA Women’s Committee

7 March 2012

Women members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) and Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) held a march dubbed “Kalbaryo ng Kababaihan” from Sta. Cruz Church to Recto to Morayta, Manila.  The march highlighted the “101 burdens of women on the 101^st anniversary of International Women’s Day.”

Among the burdens of women raised during the activity included the following: grave lack of job opportunities for women, outsourcing and contractualization being experienced by PALEA members and other women workers, high prices of basic commodities, non-passage of a reproductive health program after more than a decade and extreme lack of social services. 

“International Women’s Day will be 101 years tomorrow.  From continuously struggling for our rights and a better life, we have won victories.  However, the capitalist system in deep crisis has been little by little taking back what our forebears have won and sacrificed their lives for,” asserted PM Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda.

“Subalit hindi kami titigil sa paglaban – para sa trabaho, mas mababang presyo ng bilihin, kalidad na pampublikong serbisyo, programa sa reproduktibong kalusugan, at pagtutol sa kontraktwalisasyon, mababang sweldo, expanded value added taxes sa gasolina, tubig at kuryente, at marami pang iba.  Dahil itinuturo ng kasaysayan na hindi kusang ibinibigay ng gobyerno ang karapatan at mas kaaya-ayang buhay para sa kababaihan at mamamayan, ipinaglalaban ito!” Ms. Miranda added.

“Ang pagpunit ng pinalaking bills ng tubig at kuryente, payslip, reseta ng gamot, endong employment contract, at iba pa are symbols of our disappointment at the Aquino government’s lip service to our demands, and our expression that the fight for the reinstatement of PALEA workers, for jobs for women and a better life will continue,” explained Arlene Ladimo of PALEA Women’s Committee.

Afterwards, the Kalbaryo ng Kababaihan merged with the rally for economic justice of the Freedom from Debt Coalition-Women (FDC). The FDC mobilization bannered the call “Utang sa Kababaihan, Dapat Bayaran.”

Women workers launch kick-off march for International Women’s Day celebration

PRESS RELEASE

PALEA Women’s Committee

5 March 2012

Women members of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) joined by Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) held a rally at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Intramuros, Manila to assail the agency’s connivance in the suppression of women workers rights. The protesters will bring female paper dolls with the necks in a noose to highlight the plight of women workers under the present government.

Among the rallyists will be breadwinners, single mothers and widows who are all facing extreme difficulties as PALEA enters its sixth month of a lockout by the Lucio Tan-owned Philippine Airlines (PAL).

“This is our kickoff activity to celebrate March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD),” said Arlene Ladimo of PALEA Women’s Committee.  “The DOLE twice affirmed the outsourcing plan of PAL despite its P3 billion profit belieing its claims of losses. After the mass layoff, now going on six months, we have been facing extreme difficulties i.e., sustaining the education of our children, food expenses, water and electricity bills, etc., etc.  This is especially tough for us, women, who are single mothers, widows and breadwinners,” Ms. Ladimo explained.

“But, of course, despite the hardship, we will not give up.  We will not give up our rights as workers and as women, we will never give up the future of our kids.  We are not alone in this fight.  We are well aware that we face the same situation together with millions of Filipino women–facing unemployment problems, high prices and lack of social services,” added Ms. Ladimo.

“Nakikiisa kami sa laban ng PALEA women gaya ng pakikiisa namin sa laban ng kababaihang manggagawa at maralita.  In this year’s celebration of Women’s Day, our demands are ‘Trabaho para sa Kababaihan!,’ ‘Ibaba presyo ng pangunahing bilihin!’ and ‘Dagdagan ang badyet sa pampublikong serbisyo!,’” explained PM Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda.

After the rally, several of the PALEA members attended the hearing at the DOLE regarding their illegal suspension by Philippine Airlines for supporting the union picketline.

On Wednesday women members of PALEA and PM will join a march for economic and labor justice that will proceed from UST to Mendiola in Manila. On March 8, PALEA and PM will have another mass action to commemorate International Women’s Day as part of the global activities by women’s groups.

Big push for RH on Women’s Day led by Partido ng Manggagawa and RHAN

PRESS RELEASE
8 March 2011

Women members of the Partido ng Manggagawa together with various women’s groups from the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) held a march with around six thousand women to celebrate the 100th year of International Women’s Day by highlighting their support for the RH bill.

With the theme “Marching for RH, Marching for Life!,” Partido ng Manggagawa and RHAN assembled at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City at 1:00 in the afternoon. At 1:30 pm the group marched from the CHR to the House of Representatives, with other women’s groups that gathered in front of St. Peter’s Parish near the Sandiganbayan. A cultural and solidarity program was held at the South Wing gate of the HOR while sponsorship speeches and interpellations were going on. Simultaneously, a contingent from PM and RHAN attended the session at the Senate of the Philippines to support counterpart bill still pending at the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

“This is a very important occasion for poor and working women suffering the brunt of the absence of a comprehensive reproductive health care program in the country. We are happy that the House of Representatives heard our clamour to immediately start the sponsorship speeches and plenary debate on the RH bill. Totoong urgent ang issues ng pagkamatay ng 11 kababaihan araw-araw, gayon din, ang pagdami ng kabataang kababaihang nabubuntis, 7 out of 10 pregnancies are that of teens,” explained PM Secretary General Judy Ann Chan-Miranda.

“On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, we also raise other issues specifically beneficial to poor and working women such as the absence of a socialized housing program, the passage of a law on security of tenure, a legislated across-the-board increase in wages, and protection for frontline service workers against indignities and harassment. Women, especially poor women, are not only doubly but multiply-burdened and greatly suffer from the lack if not the absence of income, high prices of basic commodities, electricity and water, among others,” added Miranda.

In the morning of Women’s Day, PM joined the Martsa ng Kababaihan which highlighted other issues that burden women such as employment and livelihood, violence against women and children, etc. Women participants marched from Blumentritt to Mendiola.

Women workers hold noise barrage for RH bill

PRESS RELEASE
4 March 2011

Women members of the Partido ng Manggagawa held a noise barrage for the RH bill bringing with them makeshift air-conditioners, bags of ice and folding fans in response to the cancellation of sessions at the House of Representatives since Tuesday.

“Women workers have brought whatever air-conditioning amenities that members of the House of Representatives need just so the plenary debates on RH can proceed. This symbolizes the exigency of the bill’s passage given that eleven (11) poor women, including teenagers, are dying every day from pregnancy and birth delivery complications,” explained PM Secretary General Judy Ann Chan-Miranda.

From a leaders assembly of women workers at the Department of Agriculture AIT Building in the morning, PM members marched to Philcoa for the noise barrage at 1:00pm. In preparation for the Women’s Day commemoration, the assembly discussed pressing concerns of women workers’ such as the RH bill, the security of tenure bill and the plight of migrant workers.

“We are deeply concerned with the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy. The Philippines, according to the World Bank, is among the Top 10 countries where there are an increasing number of teenage mothers (3.6 million). Seven out of every 10 women who are pregnant are teenagers. More often than not, these teenagers come from poor and working class families. We could just imagine how difficult life would be for these young women,” added Miranda.

PM believes that through age-appropriate sexuality and reproductive health education, young women especially, will learn the risks of early pregnancy and, thus, try to avoid unsound sexual decisions. “It is really important that the State provide the necessary preparation for teenagers to cope with puberty and sexual development through sex education,” stressed Miranda.

On March 8, hundreds of PM members including the youth will assemble by 1:00 at St. Peter’s Cathedral along Commonwealth Ave. then march on to Batasang Pambansa for the big rally in support of the RH bill.

PALEA welcomes Ethics Committee finding on “menopausal bitch” case

Press Release
March 3, 2011
PALEA

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) welcomed the House Ethics Committee’s approval of the case against Rep. Eulogio Magsaysay for grave slander, serious misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a high ranking public official and direct solicitation of personal favor or gain using his office. Last Tuesday the Ethics Committee as a whole found the PALEA complaint against Magsaysay as sufficient in form and substance. The case is now assigned to the Subcommittee on Ethics for investigation headed by Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan.

“This is a welcome gift for the coming International Women’s Day. PALEA and Sarah Bonnin-Ocampo appreciates the House Ethics Committee for its forthright decision. We call on the Subcommittee to act with dispatch and justice on the complaint. Magsaysay may not lose his seat in the House unlike Singson and Ecleo but he nonetheless deserves punishment for his misdeed,” stated Ginalyn Licayan, PALEA Women’s Committee head.

Last January 17 PALEA and Ocampo filed the case against Magsaysay at the House Committees on Ethics and Privileges. On 17 December last year, while on duty, Magsaysay shouted “menopausal bitch” and “bitch” several times to Ocampo after being told that she does not have to the power to change seating arrangements in the business class as per his request.

In preparation for the Women’s Day commemoration, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) and PALEA Women’s Committee will be holding a leaders assembly tomorrow to discuss the pressing concerns of women workers such as Ocampo’s case, the RH bill, the security of tenure bill and plight of migrant workers. They will then have a noise barrage by 1:00 pm at Philcoa. On March 8, hundreds of PM members will assemble by 1:00 at St. Peter’s Cathedral along Commonwealth Ave. then march on to Batasang Pambansa for the big RH bill.

“We wish that Sarah’s fight for justice will blaze a trail in the struggle for workers’ dignity. Service workers in the airline industry and call centers among others suffer indignities in the workplace through no fault of their own but receive no protection from their employers or the government. There are many more Sarahs who need support and protection against abusive officials and insensitive customers,” explained Judy Ann Miranda, secretary general of PM which has been supporting PALEA in its compliant.

“The Ethics Committee recognition of our complaint is already an initial gain as is PAL management’s announcement that it will look into proposals to protect its frontline service workers from indignities and harassment,” Licayan asserted. ###

Labor group slam rich barangay ordinance against condom sale

PRESS RELEASE
28 February 2011

The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) condemns the issuance of an ordinance by officials of Barangay Ayala Alabang against the sale of condoms. The group meanwhile welcomed the position of the Muntinlupa City council that in its review of the barangay ordinance said that it might be violation of the law and guidelines of the Department of Health.

“The officials of Barangay Ayala Alabang are obviously being dogmatic while the Muntinlupa city councillors are being prudent in their positions. The exclusive subdivisions of Ayala Alabang may put as high a wall to prevent poor people from peering but they cannot setup its own rules in contradiction with the laws of the country,” explained PM Secretary General Judy Ann Chan-Miranda.

She added that, “The need for prescription undermines the right of residents in the barangay to contraceptives. In the first place, the need for prescription to purchase condoms and pills is baseless. Matagal na itong kinategorize na over-the-counter essential medicines ng Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and even by the World Health Organization. Now, seemingly, these barangay officials have suddenly becomes medical experts.”

Yesterday more than a thousand women and men from PM and different women’s groups marched at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) office in Intramuros. On March 4, PM will hold a big assembly of women workers on the RH bill and other working women issues in preparation for the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8. PM will commemorate Women’s Day with rallies at the Senate and House and Representatives to lobby for the RH bill.

“Prescriptions are used for drugs and medicines that may put people’s lives at risk. Anong health risk mayroon ang condom? And pills? Actually, it is highly prescribed by the WHO in preventing HIV-AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.” said Miranda.

PM further explained that legislating the Catholic Church’s doctrines, even at the barangay level, is coercive. “Women, men, parents and couples have the right to decide which contraceptives to use. It is neither up to the State nor the Church to decide on these matters,” Miranda insisted.

Reproductive health and wage hike pushed by women workers

Press Release
March 8, 2010

A wage hike and reproductive health were the main concerns raised by women members of the labor party-list Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) in celebration of women’s day. More than a hundred women workers and urban poor held a picket at the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) which was followed by a rally at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) offices to highlight the two demands.

“The demand for a wage hike and reproductive health set the context for this year’s commemoration of women’s day. The twin issues are appropriate since they frame the productive and reproductive roles of women in the family and society,” explained Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary-general.

In women’s day activities by PM chapters in the provinces, additional working women issues were brought to the fore. In Cebu, women urban poor trooped to the campout of Alta Mode garment workers in the Mactan Economic Zone for a women’s day program. In Bacolod, women agricultural workers marched to the provincial capitol for a dialogue on the demand for subsidy due to the effect of El Nino. High water and electricity rates and the failure of privatization were highlighted as heavy burden to working women in Davao. Meanwhile in Iligan, PM members joined the women’s day parade that called for the election of the first woman councilor ever in the city.

At the CBCP office in Intramuros, Manila, members of the labor party-list group asked the Catholic bishops to “bless” two baskets of condoms. They then marched to the DOLE where the protesters banged pots and pans to symbolize the call for a wage increase and a revamp of the wage fixing mechanism. From Intramuros the rally went straight to Mendiola via Ayala Bridge, blowing whistles and creating noise along the way to draw attention to the women’s challenge to the candidates in the coming elections.

“We humbly ask the bishops to bless the condoms as a conciliatory gesture to unite for reproductive health and women’s rights,” Miranda furthered. She added that aside from providing contraception, the government should embark on a nationwide education program through the barangays so that women and men learn the many facets of HIV-AIDS, teenage pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies, child spacing and family planning, among other reproductive health concerns.

Miranda also insisted that “A P75 wage hike is reasonable and not excessive but it will not prosper unless President Gloria Arroyo supports it. That unfortunately is the problem with the tripartite regional wage boards because if Malacañang does not give the go signal for a wage hike, the wage petition will be defeated by the combined votes of the employer and government representatives.”

PM wants to abolish the wage boards to give way to a National Wage Commission with the mandate to set a national minimum wage based solely on the cost of living. Miranda argued that “There must a national standard of living that should be matched by a national minimum wage. The wage is the price of the worker’s labor power and as every other commodity in the market its price must reflect its cost of production, which in the case of the worker is nothing else but the cost of living of his or her family.”

Women workers to raise reproductive health and wage hike issues on women’s day

Press Release
March 7, 2010

Women members of the labor party-list Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) will raise the issues of a wage hike and reproductive health in the celebration of women’s day tomorrow. Some 200 women workers and urban poor will hold a picket at the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to be followed by a rally at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) offices to highlight the two demands.

“The burning demand for a wage hike and reproductive health set the context for this year’s commemoration of women’s day. The twin issues are appropriate since they frame the productive and reproductive roles of women in the family and society,” explained Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary-general.

The members of the labor party-list group will assemble by 7:00 a.m. tomorrow at the Manila Cathedral and then move on to the CBCP by 7:30 a.m. to ask to the bishops to “bless” a set of condoms that the group will distribute. They will then march to the DOLE where the protesters will bang pots and pans to demand a wage increase and a revamp of the wage fixing mechanism.

By 9:00 a.m. they join other women’s groups at España for a 10:00 a.m. rally at Mendiola. While marching to España and Mendiola, there will be a continuous noise barrage and whistle blowing to draw attention to the women’s challenge to the candidates in the coming elections.

“We will humbly ask the Catholic bishops to bless the condoms as a conciliatory gesture to unite for reproductive health and women’s rights,” Miranda furthered. She added that aside from providing contraception, the government should embark on a nationwide education program through the barangays so that women and men learn the many facets of HIV-AIDS, teenage pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies, child spacing and family planning, among other reproductive health concerns.

Miranda also insisted that “A P75 wage hike is reasonable and not excessive but it will not prosper unless President Gloria Arroyo supports it. That unfortunately is the problem with the tripartite regional wage boards because if Malacañang does not give the go signal for a wage hike, the wage petition will be defeated by the combined votes of the employer and government representatives.”

PM wants to abolish the wage boards to give way to a National Wage Commission with the mandate to set a national minimum wage based solely on the cost of living. Miranda argued that “There must a national standard of living that should be matched by a national minimum wage. The wage is the price of the worker’s labor power and as every other commodity in the market its price must reflect its cost of production, which in the case of the worker is nothing else but the cost of living of his or her family.”

The minimum wage in the NCR has been stuck at P382 for almost two years but the cost of living already reaches P1,000 a day in Metro Manila for a family of six according to various studies.

Labor party-list supports wage hike call but demands wage fixing reform

Press Release
March 6, 2010

The labor party-list Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) declared its support for the demand for a wage hike but also called for a reform of the wage fixing system. “A P75 wage hike is reasonable and not excessive. But we doubt it will be granted by the NCR wage board. That is why we are batting for the abolition of the wage boards and the establishment of a National Wage Commission instead,” argued Renato Magtubo, PM chairperson.

On Monday morning, Women’s Day, some 200 women PM members will have a rally at the Department of Labor of Employment office at Intramuros to push for the wage demand. The wage hike and reproductive health are the main calls of the labor group for this year’s women’s day.

“The P75 wage demand will not prosper unless President Gloria Arroyo supports it. That unfortunately is the problem with the tripartite regional wage board. If Malacanang does not give the go signal for a wage hike, the wage petition will be stymied at the wage board,” Magtubo explained.

PM is pushing for the abolition of the wage boards that decide on wage hike for the different regions. Instead the party-list group wants a National Wage Commission to be formed with the mandate to set a national minimum wage based solely on the cost of living.

Magtubo dared President Arroyo to declare her support or rejection of the P75 wage petition. He added “The hearings for the P75 wage hike are a moro-moro for in the end it is GMA’s body language that will determine its fate. Do the advocates for the P75 wage hike have GMA’s ear? Despite the pressure to be populist in an election year, our fearless forecast is that GMA will silently reject the wage increase petition.”

The labor group is criticizing the regional wage boards for cheapening the cost of labor and depressing wages by instituting a system of almost a hundred different wage levels in the country. PM also disapproves of the 10-point formula for determining wages and advocates that the single criterion of cost of living be used.

Magtubo insisted that “There must a national standard of living that must be matched by a national minimum wage. The wage is the price of the worker’s labor power and as every other commodity in the market its price must reflect its cost of production, which in the case of the worker is nothing else but the cost of living of his or her family.”

The minimum wage in the NCR has been stuck at P382 for almost two years but the cost of living already reaches P1,000 a day in Metro Manila for a family of six according to various studies.

Labor party-list group tells pro-life “thou shall not lie”

PRESS RELEASE
5 March 2010

After failure to gather support in its position against DOH’s condom distribution, a pro-life group and the Catholic Church tries to muddle the issue by broadcasting that condoms are ineffective against HIV-AIDS. Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) General Secretary Judy Ann Chan-Miranda belied the Catholic Church’s statements and said that “Thou shall not lie and deceive the people. According to Cochrane, the highest level of medical evidence, condoms are 80% effective with constant use. The 20% failure is due to human error such is incorrect use.”

On Monday, Women’s Day, PM will hold a picket at the CBCP to ask to the bishops to “bless” a set of condoms that the group will distribute. “Our appeal for the bishops to bless the condoms is a gesture of conciliation to unite on the issue of reproductive health in the interests of women and their families,” Miranda explained.

Some 200 members of the labor party-list group will assemble by 7:30 a.m. on March 8 at the Manila Cathedral and then move to the CBCP by 8:00 a.m. The activity will end with the women workers and poor protesting at the nearby Department and Labor and Employment to support the call for a wage increase and demand a revamp of the wage fixing mechanism.

The labor party-group said that 81% of Filipinos are Catholics and the remaining 19% are not. “Laws should respect the beliefs of others, religious beliefs, Catholic beliefs for that matter, should not be forced on people,” explained Ms. Miranda. She added “It is high time that the Catholic Church refrain from using its influence to legislate and enact religious-related practices and beliefs.”

At the same time, PM reproached the Catholic Church’s campaign for the banning of condom ads. “Beyond its anti-women stance, the Catholic Church is also showing its disregard for the Filipinos’ rights, including the right to correct information,” said Miranda. She added that, “The Catholic Church can continue to argue its beliefs, for as long as it wants to, but this should not be at the expense of allowing those who believe otherwise from doing what they also think are good for women and the Filipino people. The Catholic Church should accept the fact that it cannot and should impose their beliefs on people in the guise of eternal salvation.”

Women Workers’ Statement on Women’s Day 2009

Social protection not double burden

Women workers are disproportionately affected by the ongoing mass layoffs, work rotation and other flexibility schemes. In the two industries that have been greatly affected by the global crisis—electronics and garments—women workers are the overwhelming majority. The country’s top two exports are electronics and, apparel and clothing accessories, accounting respectively for $2.6 billion and $181 million in revenues as of September 2008 according to the National Statistics Office. About 18% of exports are sent to the US and then 14% to Japan, both of which are in recession.

With the crisis getting deeper, the double burden of women workers becomes heavier. The traditional coping mechanism of the workers and the poor is the safety net of family relations but this unduly relies on the unpaid work of women. The double burden means women are exploited as cheap labor in the factories and then utilized as unpaid workers in the home.

The government must provide the safety net of social protection so that workers and the poor do not rely exclusively on the coping mechanism of family relations and women are not weighed down by the heavier double burden. A pro-labor and pro-women bailout package is needed is to alleviate the burden of the crisis on the feminine shoulders of women workers.

Pilar (women) still trailing Pepe (men)

Yet the government is deaf and blind to these demands. In fact it is making big fuzz out of its false claim that Pilar has overtaken Pepe, that Filipino women have overtaken men in terms of development. A presumptuous government study claims that women have surpassed men in health, education, and income, and that sooner or later it is Filipino men who will clamor for equality and demand its own “National Men’s Month.”

This study asserts women have gained higher achievements than men in all three dimensions as indicated by the higher than one levels of Gender Equality Ratio or GER for health (1.0248), education (1.0583) and income (1.2299) in 2003. In fact, the advantage of women in the income dimension grew bigger as the GER in income increased from 1.1170 to 1.2299. This is probably one of the reasons why the theme of the government’s commemoration of Women’s Month is “Babae, Yaman ka ng Bayan!” (Women, You are the Wealth of the Nation!)

The truth is that the study merely highlights women achievements in those areas but it hides the bigger picture of the state of inequality between men and women in the Philippines. It also contains chauvinist innuendos, or a sexist joke at its worst, by challenging the egos of men that they are outperformed by women. This exposes the fact that the government hardly understands the essence of women’s struggle for equality.

The awful truth is that around 51.4 percent (or 15 million) of Filipino women are not active in the labor force compared to the 78.9 percent (22.9 million) labor force participation rate for men. Assuming that 4 million of these women aged 15-19 are still studying and the 2.5 million aged 60-80 above have retired, there remains 8.5 million women aged 20-59 who are not active in the labor force.

These women are a big chunk of the labor force that are doing fulltime household work—unrecognized by society because the value of what they do remains invisible in the country’s income accounts. Likewise, they are not counted in unemployment statistics. There are only 929,000 unemployed women accounted for in October 2008.

These numbers indicate that more than half of Filipino women aged 15 and above are without their own income. So how can these invisible women be considered “yaman ng bayan” (wealth of the nation) when in fact they are without their own source of income.

Moreover, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), women are paid lower wages compared to men, and this is the trend worldwide. Despite the fact that there is no discrimination on women in terms of wages policies in the country, majority of women workers are found in the service sector, education, finance, health and social work where wages are more often than not below minimum, without benefits, with worse working conditions and the type of work are mere extensions of their household chores. To add up to these is the recent lay off of around 40,000 workers, mostly women, due to the global economic crisis.

The same goes in the health aspect. While it is true that women live longer than men, there are also 11 women who die in childbirth everyday according to the recent study by the United Nations Children’s Fund. Pregnancy and childbirth complications remain in the top 10 killers of women in the country. In relation with this, it is estimated that 800 women die yearly due to complications of unsafe abortion. Around 3,000 women yearly are reported raped and the trend is going up. Another 3,000 women die of breast cancer yearly, and another 2,000 of cervical cancer.

Working class women demands

Thus women workers demand a (1) subsidy for displaced workers from the government; (2) tax refund for all wage earners; (3) expansion and reform of the public employment program; (4) extension of health care coverage for displaced workers; and (5) moratorium on demolitions and evictions.

Aside from these, we demand the passage of the Reproductive Health bill. The Reproductive Health bill answers the problem of high maternal mortality that is bound to escalate in times of crisis. Without the Reproductive Health bill, reproductive health services will remain beyond the reach of poor working women.

To fund this vastly expanded social program, the entire PhP700 billion (USD14 billion) debt servicing budget must be reallocated.

Furthermore we demand the reversal of the policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization which is at the root of high prices of goods and the deterioration of public services.

Women workers debunk government claim that Pilar has overtaken Pepe

PRESS RELEASE
08 March 2009

The government is just making big fuzz out of its false claim that Filipino women have overtaken men in terms of development, a militant labor party said in a statement in today’s celebration of the International Women’s Day.

Women members of the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) (Labor Party-Philippines), who joined the Welga ng Kababaihan’s march to Mendiola this morning, reacted strongly to a presumptous government study which claimed that women have indeed overtaken men in many aspects and that sooner or later it is the Filipino men who will clamor for equality and would demand for its own “National Men’s Month”.

According to an article titled “When will Filipino men catch up with Filipino Women?” written by Candido J. Astrologo, Jr. (cj.astrologo@nscb.gov.ph), OIC-Director of the National Statistical Information Center (NSIC) and Policies, Programs, and Standards Office (PPSO) and published in March under the column of Romulo Virola, the Secretary General of National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) (www.nscb.gov.ph/headlines/StatsSpeak/2009/020909_cja_gdi.asp), women outperformed men in terms of health, education, and income.

The study claimed women gained higher achievements than men in all three dimensions as indicated by the higher than one levels of Gender Equality Ratio or GER for health (1.0248), education (1.0583) and income (1.2299) in 2003. In fact, the advantage of women in the income dimension grew bigger as the GER in income increased from 1.1170 to 1.2299 and could possibly one of the reasons why this year’s Women’s Month theme is “Babae, Yaman ka ng Bayan!”

And this was due to what the author claims is government’s attention given to women being a signatory to various international conventions and resolutions in formulation of appropriate domestic policies on women, the latest of which is the proposed Magna Carta on Women.

“With all these efforts geared towards enhancing the status of women, wouldn’t Pepe feel jealous that Pilar is getting all the attention? And refer to Pilar as 'ang babaeng humugot ng aking tadyang?' Should there be a Magna Carta of Men too?,” the study pompously declared.

But PM secretary-general Judy Ann Miranda said the article smacks of pretentions and is more a self-emulation of the Arroyo administration’s wanting gender performance.

“The study merely highlights women achievements in those areas but it hides the bigger picture of the real state of inequality between men and women in the Philippines. It also contains chauvinist innuendos, or a sexist joke at its worst, by challenging the egos of men that were outperformed by women. That makes us wonder whether the government truly understands the essence of women’s struggle for equality,” lamented Miranda.

Invisible work, lower wages, more women death

The awful truth, Miranda said, is that around 51.4 percent (or 15 million) of Filipino women are not active in the labor force compared to men’s 78.9 percent (22.9 million) labor force participation rate. Assuming that 4 million of these women aged 15-19 are still studying and the 2.5 million aged 60-80 above have retired. This means there remains 8.5 million women aged 20-59 who are not active in the labor force and what for what reasons? These women are, more or less, a big chunk of the labor force that are doing fulltime household work – unrecognized by society because the value of what they do remains invisible in the country’s income accounts. Likewise, they are not counted in the statistics of the unemployed. In fact, there are only 929,000 unemployed women accounted for in October 2008. Compared to

“How can then invisible women be considered 'yaman ng bayan' when in fact these women cannot claim that even to themselves?” Miranda averred. These numbers indicate that more than half of Filipino women aged 15 and above are without their own income.

Moreover, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), women are paid lower wages compared to men, and this is the trend worldwide. Despite the fact that there is no discrimination on women in terms of wages policies in the country, majority of women workers are found service sector, education, finance, health and social work where wages are more often than not below the minimum wage rate, without benefits, the worse of working conditions and the type of work they do are extensions of their household chores. To add up to these is the recent lay off of around 40,000 workers, mostly women, due to the global economic crisis.

“How can then we take the report of Virola seriously,” added PM’s secretary general. These data categorically negates the report that women have overtaken men also in terms of education given the fact that majority of women are unemployed and without their own source of income.

The same goes in the health aspect. It is true statistics say that women live longer than men, however, there are also 11 women who die in childbirth everyday according to the recent study conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund. Pregnancy and childbirth complications remain in the top 10 killers of women in the country. In relation with this, it is estimated that 800 women die yearly due to complications of unsafe abortion. Around 3,0000 women yearly are reported raped and the trend is going up. Another 3,000 women die of breast cancer yearly, and another 2,000 of cervical cancer.

Demand for bailout

In the face of the global economic crisis, the Partido ng Manggagawa is demanding in particular, (1) a specific subsidy program for displaced women workers, (2) tax refund for wage earners, (3) extension of health care coverage, (4) a reformed public employment program for displaced and unemployed women, and, (5) a moratorium on demolitions and evictions.

It is also calling for the reversal of liberalization, deregulation and privatization policies which women blame for the high prices of goods and the deterioration of public services.

The labor party is also calling for the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill now pending before the Congress.

Women workers demand passage of RH bill on Women’s Day

PRESS RELEASE
7 March 2009

With the impact of the economic meltdown expected to hit women the hardest, as confirmed in a statement by the International Labor Organization one day before International Women’s Day, the Partido ng Manggagawa renewed its call to both Houses of Congress for the passage of the reproductive health bill.

PM said that according to a latest study done by the United Nation’s Children’s Fund, 11 Filipino women die in childbirth everyday. “Undoubtedly, this number may even grow bigger as the effect of the global economic crisis deepens. Women workers – mostly in insecure jobs, underpaid, working in the most deplorable of working conditions – are victims of the country’s pathetic reproductive and maternal health services,” explained Judy Ann Miranda, PM’s general secretary.

Filipino women, especially poor working women, are the main beneficiaries once the proposed reproductive health bill is enacted. Interventions such as childbirths being supervised by midwives and skilled health professionals, high infertility rates properly addressed, mothers educated on family planning methods and risks of pregnancy, strengthening of the country’s poor reproductive and health care systems, etc will more likely be addressed.

“On Women’s Day, we are calling on the Arroyo government, that instead of focusing on farcical notions that women have indeed beaten men in terms of income, why not address the fact that majority of Filipino women are poor. Instead of focusing on the few women who have made it – indeed, we are happy for these women – why not focus on the plight of the more than half a million women who undergo unsafe abortion because of poverty, who want to use artificial contraception but cannot because of poverty, who want to give birth safely but cannot because of poverty…women whose needs should be addressed accordingly by a government headed by a woman herself,” said Miranda. She added “Indeed, it is high time for the government to address these issues and work for the passage of the RH bill.”

The Partido ng Manggagawa, in the midst of the global crisis, is also demanding for the implementation of a specific subsidy program for displaced women workers, tax refund for wage earners, a health care coverage, a reformed public employment program for displaced and unemployed women, and moratorium on demolitions and evictions. It is also calling for the reversal of liberalization, deregulation and privatization policies which women blame for the high prices of goods and the deterioration of public services.