MALOLOS CITY— The government should look into the planned outsourcing of jobs by the Philippine Airlines (PAL) in order to protect local workers and avoid other companies on replicating the same, two Nacionalista Party (NP) senatorial candidates urged on Thursday.
Susan “Toots” Ople and Ramon “Monmon” Mitra Jr., said that some 3,000 workers will be affected by the planned outsourcing, and yet, no one was raising the issue.
Both candidates were in Bulacan on Thursday where they staged a motorcade and later attended the Rockatropa Concert of the NP at the Bulacan Sports Complex.
They said that media coverage has been focused on mudslinging between presidential candidates and no one has been asking hard questions on policy issues like labor and the PAL.
“The government should step in and assure that there will be no violation of the Labor Code on the planned outsourcing of the Philippine Airlines,” said Ople, the youngest daughter of the late Senator Blas F. Ople.
The same was echoed by Mitra, one of the sons of the late House Speaker Ramon Mitra.
Both candidates expressed apprehension that other companies might follow the example of PAL to the detriment of Filipino workers.
“Kawawa ang mga workers natin kapag gumaya ang ibang kumpanya,” said Mitra.
According to Ople, PAL’s planned outsourcing involves a number of its divisions with some 3,000 workers.
She said that it is part of PAL”s downsizing due to budgetary deficits it incurred in the past years.
Downsizing of PAL’s human resource is allegedly part of its attempt to meet the international aviation standards after the European Union banned PAL flights about a month ago. It is hoped that the ban will be lifted soon.
However, Ople said that no amount of downsizing will easily contribute to the lifting of the ban as there are other problems that contributed to it.
“Hindi pa rin basta maaalis sa black list ang Pilipinas kahit mag-downsizing, kasi it’s a confluence of many things, marami tayong problema sa civil aviation at maging sa peace and order,” Ople said.
She said that other problems faced by the country will continue to make unattractive to investors.
With regards to domestic labor concerns, Mitra called for the revival of the legislated wage hike which was devolved to Regional Wage Boards.
For her part, Ople expressed concern on the low salary of Filipino workers and the lack of security of tenure.
As their 90-day campaign period comes to close, PUNTO asked both candidates on their assessment of media coverage on the campaign.
Both Ople and Mitra reiterated the observation of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility that media attention has been focused on known candidates and mudslinging, but not on policy issues.
Susan “Toots” Ople and Ramon “Monmon” Mitra Jr., said that some 3,000 workers will be affected by the planned outsourcing, and yet, no one was raising the issue.
Both candidates were in Bulacan on Thursday where they staged a motorcade and later attended the Rockatropa Concert of the NP at the Bulacan Sports Complex.
They said that media coverage has been focused on mudslinging between presidential candidates and no one has been asking hard questions on policy issues like labor and the PAL.
“The government should step in and assure that there will be no violation of the Labor Code on the planned outsourcing of the Philippine Airlines,” said Ople, the youngest daughter of the late Senator Blas F. Ople.
The same was echoed by Mitra, one of the sons of the late House Speaker Ramon Mitra.
Both candidates expressed apprehension that other companies might follow the example of PAL to the detriment of Filipino workers.
“Kawawa ang mga workers natin kapag gumaya ang ibang kumpanya,” said Mitra.
According to Ople, PAL’s planned outsourcing involves a number of its divisions with some 3,000 workers.
She said that it is part of PAL”s downsizing due to budgetary deficits it incurred in the past years.
Downsizing of PAL’s human resource is allegedly part of its attempt to meet the international aviation standards after the European Union banned PAL flights about a month ago. It is hoped that the ban will be lifted soon.
However, Ople said that no amount of downsizing will easily contribute to the lifting of the ban as there are other problems that contributed to it.
“Hindi pa rin basta maaalis sa black list ang Pilipinas kahit mag-downsizing, kasi it’s a confluence of many things, marami tayong problema sa civil aviation at maging sa peace and order,” Ople said.
She said that other problems faced by the country will continue to make unattractive to investors.
With regards to domestic labor concerns, Mitra called for the revival of the legislated wage hike which was devolved to Regional Wage Boards.
For her part, Ople expressed concern on the low salary of Filipino workers and the lack of security of tenure.
As their 90-day campaign period comes to close, PUNTO asked both candidates on their assessment of media coverage on the campaign.
Both Ople and Mitra reiterated the observation of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility that media attention has been focused on known candidates and mudslinging, but not on policy issues.
