Influx of Chinese workers, ‘endo’ decried at Labor Day rally

MANILA, Philippines — As the country marks Labor Day, militant and labor groups converged at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila on Wednesday to stage a protest action against the government and contractualization.

Protesters, mostly clad in red with anti-government placards, started forming at Plaza Miranda around 1:40 p.m. 

NOW: Protesters gather here beside Quiapo Church for the Labor Day rally. They will march to Liwasang Bonifacio to join other labor groups. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/YTmEjFsxJu

— Darryl John Esguerra (@drrylesguerra) May 1, 2019

Protesters would later march toward Liwasang Bonifacio where they would meet other labor groups and stage a bigger rally.

Groups that converged at Plaza Miranda were Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Pagkakaisa ng Uring Manggagawa (Paggawa), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

Most of them are workers demanding an end to contractualization while some are criticizing the Duterte administration’s stance on the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

They also condemned the influx of illegal Chinese workers in the country.

Ending contractualization was among President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign promises in 2016.

Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 51 in the absence of a measure that would put an end to the unfair labor practice of contractualization.

However, the EO was heavily criticized by labor groups, describing it as “useless” for lacking crucial provision declaring direct hiring as the norm.

But the government said the presidential issuance has regularized 435,188 workers since 2016.

READ: 500,000 workers regularized since Duterte signed EO – DOLE

/kga