Ka Leody on Imee’s ‘Pagod Len-len’ video: She did not experience being a worker

Photo Courtesy of Ka Leody De Guzman Facebook Page

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate and labor leader Leody de Guzman on Saturday criticized Senator Imee Marcos for her viral video against those working 18 hours a day.

“Sinabi ni Imee na ‘lying’ or ‘stupid’ daw ‘yun nagsasabing nagtatrabaho sila ng 18 oras kada araw. Malamang nasabi niya ito dahil hindi niya naranasan ang pagiging manggagawa. Hindi rin siya nakalinga ng karaniwang ina na may double burden ng gawaing bahay bukod sa pagtatrabaho,” De Guzman said in a statement.

(Imee said those saying they are working 18 hours a day are either lying or stupid. Maybe she was able to say this because she never experienced being a worker. She was also not cared for by an ordinary mother who has the double burden of doing house chores aside from working.)

The presidential contender was commenting on the “Pagod Len-len” video posted on Friday on the Facebook page of Senator Marcos, sister of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In the video, she asked if someone can really work 18 hours a day.

“Eighteen hours, totoo ba ‘yun? (18 hours of work, is that even true?)” the senator asked after her companions in the supposedly satirical video said a fictional character named Len-len fainted after working for 18 hours.

“Di naman ako makapaniwala niyan. Pwede kang kumain habang nagtatrabaho, pero (I can’t believe that. You can work while eating, but) the rest of the work, you have to focus,” she added.

Marcos even said that time management should be considered in taking jobs.

“Alam niyo, time management ‘yan eh. Ang pagtatrabaho ay parang pag-inom ng kape. ‘Pag nagtimpla ka, dapat tantsa mo. Kaya ko ba ‘tong ubusin? Sa ganitong oras? Nang ganito kabilis? Habang may ginagawa?” she said.

(You know what, that is an issue of time management. Working is like drinking coffee. When you make coffee, you should measure it. Can I finish this coffee? In this time and pace? While doing something else?)

The video ended with a text over black background that read: “Anyone who claims to work 18 hours a day is either lying or stupid.”

Many netizens believed that the video seems to be a jab at Vice President Leni Robredo, who said during the Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews last month that she works an average of 18 hours a day.

For his part, De Guzman stressed that because of low wages, many workers don’t just work overtime but have sidelines in order to earn more.

The Partido Lakas ng Masa candidate added that regular hours of work should be amended.

“Dapat repormahin ang batas ukol sa regular hours of work na tutugon din sa ating problema sa unemployment. Ang kompanya na may 24 hours operation at pinatatakbo ng tatlong eight-hour shifts ay maaaring paandarin ng apat na six-hour shifts, nang walang kabawasan sa sweldo,” De Guzman said.

(We should reform the law about regular hours of work that will also address the problem of unemployment. A company with 24 hours of operation and is being run by three eight-hour shifts may be run for four six-hour shifts, without deduction in pay.)

“Sa pag-unlad ng teknolohiya, dapat nadadagdagan ang oras na kontrolado ng tao ang kanyang buhay. Hindi tayo karugtong ng makina o mga simpleng kasangkapan sa operasyon ng kompanya,” he pointed out.

(With the advancement of technology, we should add more hours where a person can have control over his life. We are not extensions of machines or normal equipment in the operations of the company.)

“Labas sa pagkakayod, may pagpapasya tayo na gawin ang nais nating gawin. Walang dikta ng amo at company rules and regulations. Dito lamang tayo nagiging tunay at malayang tao,” De Guzman added.

(Outside work, we have the freedom to do what we want to. No boss or company rules and regulations should dictate us. Only during this time can we truly be free.)

INQUIRER.net has sought the comment of Marcos regarding De Guzman’s remarks but has yet to receive a response as of posting.

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