Workers’ plan big Labor Day protests nationwide

Thousands of workers are expected to take to the streets across the country on May 1, Labor Day, to slam the failure of President Rodrigo Duterte to issue an executive order (EO) that will prohibit contractualization.

“The Labor Day march will be an indignation rally against [the] failed [issuance of an] EO on contractualization,” said Elmer Labog of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).

Labor leaders from various workers groups on Wednesday displayed nails to depict the “napakong pangako” (failed promises) of the President to end contractualization.

“For two years, we participated in labor summits called by the Department of Labor and Employment, dialogued with the President three times, drafted an executive order on contractualization, negotiated with him through five drafts—all to no avail,” said the KMU and Nagkaisa Labor Coalition in a joint statement.

They said that around 60,000 workers in Metro Manila would march to Mendiola, while an estimated 150,000 workers would join other protest rallies nationwide. —Tina G. Santos