WITNESS THROUGH ACTION: YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE MDGS
A testimony by Andy Predicala, Philippines YCW
With the fast changing economy, culture and society in our globalized world, the so called “development” is not real development. Many young workers in the Philippines , and probably around the world, suffer from job insecurity, long hours of work, unstable and very low income, and are most vulnerable to all forms of abuses. The trend of work is clear. From regular jobs to contractual work system… to informal work… and to unemployment and underemployment. Let me share you a few examples based on the life testimony of our comrades:
Otoy, is one of our base group leaders of Pedicab in Valenzuela City , Metro Manila. He was a regular worker in a plastic and paper sacks factory but illegally dismissed after 2 years with other workers by the management. Otoy at 28, tried to seek a job in other factories but it got him more difficult to find one since the company age requirement is 18-25 years old. Otoy was forced to be self-employed, to be a pedicab driver in their locality. Many YCW leaders and members shared the same story. They started working as regulars or contractuals and ended as informal workers (pedicab drivers).
But the story doesn't end there. Our life-situation as pedicab driver is even worse. Among us, competition and rivalry are present. We lack unity and solidarity. Some of us experienced abuse and harassment of fellow workers, “employers” and the police. Most of us young workers in these sectors have unstable jobs and a meager income. We are forced to work 12, 14, 16 long hours.
The same situation is experienced by hundreds of young fisherfolk in the Bicol region of the Philippines like Renato, a 28 year old who started fishing at the age of 14. Most often accidents happen at the working place because of unsafe working conditions. His income of 100-200 pesos per night (2-3 US dollars) is unstable and he has no health and other social benefits like hospitalization or medical check up. He also becomes unemployed during off-season (October-February).
Plantation workers in Negros Occidental share the same problem. Val, 19 years old works together with his father in a sugar cane plantation. They are cultivating the land for almost 35 years but still, they don't own the land despite of the Agrarian Reform Law. They also work as seasonal workers, and paid 80-120 pesos a day (less than 2 dollars) which is far below the minimum wage and standard living condition for agricultural workers. They also have no access to medical care, education, housing and other social benefits.
Animal slaughterhouse workers (butchers) in Iloilo city fear to lose their job. 500 workers (out of which 150 are youth) are going to be displaced because of the modernization program of the city government. The newly opened slaughter house is equipped with machines and only 50 people are needed to operate it. Carno, 20 years old, a working student who works at night in the slaughterhouse and receives 100 to 150 pesos ($US 2-3) a day fears that he cannot continue his studies because he will be unemployed soon. Same situation is experienced by the hundreds of our young working students.
There are different situations of young workers, but there is only one reality and common among us: we have no social protection , which means that it becomes more difficult for us and our families to realize our dream of “a decent work and decent life”. No decent work and decent life equally means greater POVERTY.
Based on the Family Income and Expenditure Survey, it is estimated that 65 million Filipinos or 80% of the total population of our country have a normal income of 96 pesos (less than $US 2) a day! This fact indicates that almost 46 million Filipinos are experiencing hunger daily and lack the much needed food in order to survive.
With the global crises of food and energy today coupled with corruption in government in our country, our work-life situation goes from bad to worse - a dangerous nightmare!
With this panorama, the Young Christian Workers, as living witnesses of the liberating action of Jesus Christ have developed concrete actions to address the concerns, issues and problems of the young workers to the Government, fully aware that it has embodied, at least by international agreement, to alleviate Poverty within the Millennium Development Goals.
As part of Millennium Development Goal 8, governments and non-government organizations have committed to developing a global partnership for development. This includes developing and implementing strategies and for decent and productive work for youth. In the Philippines and around the world YCW is committed to achieving this.
In Metro Manila, we developed actions to demand our right to be recognized as workers and as Association and our right to have space for a pedicab terminal. And we did it! Today, we plan to develop livelihood projects to uplift and dignify our lives and of our families against the odds of work situation in our country. We continue to lobby in the government for social benefits like SSS and health securities, housing, education and other services and for the right to decent work through signature, letter writing and petitions campaigns.
With the young fisherfolks in Bicol region, we have developed series of dialogue with local government officials and to the “employers” (boat owners) on policies and implementation about legal and safe fishing, Now, we are developing cooperative of young fisherfolk thru the WSM to uplift our livelihood and conducted training for the women (sisters, wives and mothers) to find alternative source of income.
With the young hacienda workers in Negros, we have petitioned for the implementation of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Law through petition letters, dialogue and negotiation with big land owners and with local government officials but of no avail. We have successfully developed actions to avail our right to social security through the help of education and labor centres.
With the slaughter house workers and working students in Iloilo we have developed actions to demand city government officials for a livelihood program or alternative jobs and access to education and training through signature campaign, dialogue and petitions. The actions are on-going.
At the national level, we are actively campaigning for Php125 ($US 3) wage increase across the board nationwide together with other organizations, trade unions and Institutions.
The above-mentioned life-work situations of young workers in our country and all workers over the globe might be the same or maybe not, but what binds us together is our noble sense of right and duty to Work because we believe that Work is life-giving, dignifying and sacred. We dream for decent work and decent life today. With decent and productive work for us the youth, we can change our world into a better place for all to live in and we can secure a global partnership for development . It is our dream, our faith, our action-reflection and our constant prayer.
Our beloved founder, Joseph Cardinal Cardijn once said: “Young Workers are not animals, nor slaves, nor machines, nor things to be used. Young workers are persons.. They are daughters and sons of God and heirs of God's Reign”. We deserve decent life and decent work, not yesterday nor tomorrow, but Today. Together, we have to act now!
Thank you,
Andy N. Predicala
Philippine YCW President
July 15 , 2008
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