10 March 2012
Contractualization king, 2 princes, country’s top billionaires again – KMU
“They’ve got it all from us.”
This was the reaction of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno as the “king” and “princes” of contractualization once again made it to the list of the world’s top billionaires.
“Where else could these capitalists get their billions but from us, workers. While they enjoy huge profits from our hard work, we are left with meager coins for wages and jobs that will not even last for 5 months,” said Elmer Labog, KMU chairperson.
“Whatever these billionaires have, they have earned through brazen exploitation of workers in forms of extremely low wages and various contractualization schemes,” added Labog.
According to KMU, among Forbes Magazine’s list of billionaires are the country’s top promoters of cheap and contractual labor. Henry Sy (116th) has a net worth of $8 billion while 9 out of 10 employees of his malls are contractuals earning only P250-300 a day.
Lucio Tan (314th), who justified his outsourcing scheme that laid off 2,600 regular workers by claiming bankruptcy, has a net worth of $3.5 billion. On the other hand, President Aquino’s uncle, Danding Cojuangco (960th), whose net worth is at $1.3 billion, employs only 25 regular workers out of 100 contractuals in all his plants, including his San Miguel Corporation.
“For capitalists, lower wages mean bigger profits and contractual jobs mean regular flow of billions. They are parasites who feed from our workers’ hunger and suffering. All this they do with full consent and support from the government,” said Labog.
Wage hike and regular jobs, justifiable and possible
KMU also stressed the demands of Filipino workers for a substantial wage hike saying that by making it again to the world’s top billionaires list, capitalists could not use bankruptcy and threats of closure to deny workers of increase in wages.
“Closures? Bankruptcy? No more excuses! Their billions are enough proofs that a substantial wage hike is possible and must be given immediately to give our workers, at least, a temporary relief from the sky-rocketing prices of oil products and other basic goods,” Labog said.
The labor center also called for an end to various contractualization schemes saying these only benefit capitalists while workers are subjected to lower wages, lack of benefits, and other violations on basic labor rights.
For reference:
Elmer “Bong” Labog, 0908-1636597
KMU chairperson
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