Youth workers and church leaders on Saturday urged politicians to include in their political agenda the welfare of young workers in the Philippines.
“The Year of Mercy and the upcoming national elections present both a “challenge of faith” and a “challenge of responsibility for those who want to lead the country,” said Errol Alonzo, National Chairperson of Young Christian Workers (YCW).
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Around 150 youth workers and church leaders met on Saturday for a “youth-workers and church people” festival held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Manila.
Alonzo lamented how the government failed to address contractualization.
“Ang sitwasyon sa ating lipunan ay talamak ang kontraktwalisasyon, pribatisasyon, deregulasyon at maging migrasyon. Ito ang mga isyu na patuloy na nagpapahirap sa mga kabtaan,” he said.
During the presidential debates in Cagayan de Oro, Alonzo said these issues were not tackled.
“Nananawagan ang mga kabataang manggagawa sa panahong ito sa bawat kandidato, nasyonal man at mapa-lokal, na bitbitin ang isyu ng mga kabataang manggagawa tungkol sa makatarungang trabaho, sahod at karapatan,” he said.
“Hinahamon namin ang bawat kandidato na pag-usapan ito sa bawat debate, bitbitin ito sa kongreso at pagtuunan ito ng pansin dahil ito lamang ang sasagot sa tunay na kalagayan ng ating lipunan,” he added.’
John Brian Geronimo, a youth worker, was also concerned about contractualization and the meager salary for the youth.
“Isang concern ko bilang kabataang manggagawa kung ano yung paninindigan nila sa karapatan naming manggagawa, sa aming seguridad, at sa usapin sa sahod na napakaliit at sa usapin din ng kontratwalisasyon at kung paano nila mareresolba ang mga sistema na sa pagtingin namin ay sumisikil sa aming karapatan,” Geronimo said.
According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), at least 54 million Filipinos are eligible to vote this May elections.