MANILA, Philippines?Militant workers gathered in front of the Department of Labor and Employment in Intramuros at noon Friday to protest the alleged inability of the government to protect workers from retrenchment and abusive labor practices.

Members of Kilusang Mayo Uno also urged Labor Secretary Marianito Roque to revoke Memorandum Circular 02 which, they said, allowed companies to impose flexible work schedules.

"This memorandum order practically authorized contractualization and compressed time work, which eventually led to massive layoffs in several companies," said KMU chair Elmer Labog.

Labog scoffed at Roque's earlier pronouncement that the country has weathered the effects of the global economic meltdown, saying at least 15,000 employees are facing displacement from work with the imminent closure of their companies.

He said some 5,000 port workers could also lose their jobs with the planned privatization of the Philippine Ports Authority.