MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 1, 2010) - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines on Monday urged the International Maritime Organization to compel ships using the so-called "Pirate Alley" off Somalia to build in fortified rooms where crew members can hide in the event of an attack.
TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera, a former senator, said the installation of "panic rooms" should be among the additional defensive measures taken by merchant ships to thwart pirates prowling The Gulf of Aden.
Apart from communications equipment, Herrera said the secure rooms should have adequate food, water and ventilation provisions to enable crew members to survive until they are rescued.
TUCP is a national labor center whose member organizations include the Philippine Seafarers Union, an affiliate of the London-based International Transport Workers' Federation.
Herrera cited the rescue of 16 crew members aboard the German freighter MV Beluga Fortune, which was seized by Somali pirates on October 24.
"We are grateful to the British and German forces that retrieved the sailors who were mostly Filipinos," Herrera said in a statement.
The sailors were rescued unharmed after they sent out a distress call, cut off the ship's fuel supply, shut down all power on the bridge, and dug themselves in a safe room before they could be overwhelmed by the pirates.
Unable to take charge of the ship, or hold any crew member hostage, the pirates were eventually forced to abandon the vessel. The marauders were already gone when British and German forces rescued the crew members.
TUCP's call for "panic rooms" came immediately after pirates hijacked yet another vessel, the Panama-flagged tanker MV Polar, off Somalia. The ship's 24 crew members included 16 Filipinos.
The Gulf of Aden is part of the vital Suez Canal shipping route between the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean. The gulf is known by the moniker "Pirate Alley" on account of the growing piracy in the area.
Over 21,000 ships navigate the Gulf of Aden every year, and Herrera said many if not all of them are bound to have Filipino sailors on board.
Foreign shipping firms, mostly based in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, and Singapore, employ more than 350,000 Filipino sailors. Without counting the MV Polar and its crew, Somali pirates are still holding 19 vessels with 428 hostages.
Showing posts with label TUCP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TUCP. Show all posts
Monday, November 01, 2010
Group calls for "panic rooms" in ships crossing Pirate Alley
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Pinoy sailors sent home $888M in 1Q
MANILA, Philippines - Filipino sailors on foreign ocean-going vessels wired home a total of $888.949 million in the first quarter, up 11.04 percent or $88.414 million from the $800.535 million they remitted over the same three-month period in 2009, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) reported Sunday.
TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera said the 11.04 percent growth in the money sent home by sailors was nearly double the 5.96 percent increase in the cash remitted by land-based migrant Filipino workers in the first quarter.
"We remain bullish overall about the potential growth in remittances from Filipino sailors in the months ahead," said Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.
"However, we are also deeply worried about Greece's lingering debt crisis, which could depress economic conditions as well as shipping activity in Europe," added Herrera, whose labor center includes the Philippine Seafarers' Union.
Of the 10 biggest sources of remittances from Filipino sailors, six are European countries, Herrera pointed out.
The top 10 sources of Filipino sailors' remittances are the United States, Japan, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Greece, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Cyprus, according to Herrera.
Remittances from Filipino sailors based in Greece were still up 18 percent in the first quarter to $34.7 million versus $29.3 million a year ago.
However, Herrera also noted that remittances from Filipino sailors based in Norway, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden were actually down an average of 20.81 percent.
Last week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that total remittances from all migrant Filipino workers, whether based on land or at sea, reached $4.339 billion in the first quarter, up 6.96 percent from $4.057 billion over the same period in 2009.
In 2009, Filipino sailors sent home a record $3.4 billion, up $366 million or 12.06 percent from $3.034 billion in 2008. Remittances from Filipino sailors have more than doubled since 2005, when they sent home only $1.669 billion.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Resolve Maguindanao Massacre, Trade Group Urges Gov't
MANILA,Philippines - Unless quickly resolved, the Maguindanao bloodbath threatens to set back government efforts to entice investors that would create badly needed new jobs and improve lives in Mindanao, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines warned Sunday.
"By resolved we mean government must not only instantly bring the culprits to justice, but also immediately address all the issues that breed lawlessness in Mindanao, including the surge of private armies there," said TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera.
"The government must act fast to redeem Mindanao," Herrera said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
In some parts of Mindanao, it has become impossible for the people discern whether the armed men on checkpoints are police officers, soldiers, insurgents, private armies, plain brigands, "or all of the above," Herrera lamented.
The adverse global publicity generated by the bloodshed could erode recent gains in projecting the country as a desirable investment site, according to Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.
"It is not just Mindanao. The whole country is being affected in terms of potential foreign investors being alienated by the observation that we have become an unruly republic, where private armies freely roam and brazenly slaughter civilians and journalists," Herrera added.
The Maguindanao massacre left 57 people dead, including 30 journalists.
It was the biggest recorded loss of journalists in a single incident. The Philippines has thus earned the new status as the world’s most dangerous place for journalists.
The perception that law enforcement is weak, slow and inadequate emboldened in a big way those responsible for the Maguindanao butchery, Herrera said.
"Strong law enforcement is the best deterrence. The certainty that offenders will be swiftly apprehended and punished once they commit a felony, whether mass murder or kidnapping for ransom, is the reliable way to discourage lawlessness," he added.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Manny Pacquiao’s ecozone seen to drive Mindanao growth
MANILA, Philippines (Midnanao Examiner / May 21, 2009) - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has lauded world boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao’s decision to build a P1.2-billion privately run industrial estate in his home district in South Cotabato province, saying, this would help drive economic and employment growth throughout Mindanao.
"Manny could have easily stashed the riches he earned from boxing in passive investments in bank deposits and marketable securities. Instead, he has opted to put his money in a highly productive investment – in building factories – that help create badly needed new jobs," said TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera.
"For this, we commend Manny. We hope that other Filipinos who have achieved great success and accumulated unusual wealth on account of their professions would do the same," Herrera said in a statement.
Herrera said it was noteworthy that a day after Pacquiao’s plan became public, the Social Weather Stations released the results of a survey indicating that hunger is now most severe among families of workers who recently lost their gainful employment.
Manny Pacquiao Heights Development Corp. (MPHDC) intends to install a 200-hectare special economic zone as part of a mixed-use project on a 400-hectare company-owned estate in General Santos City (Gensan).
"Manny is actually realizing a plan that has long been pending in Congress," Herrera said, adding bills seeking to establish a state-run ecozone in Gensan have been pending in the Senate and the House of Representatives for several years now.
"An ecozone in Gensan will definitely stimulate growth in a big way throughout Mindanao, and build up the Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area," Herrera said.
The country’s tuna capital, Gensan is known for its vast marine resources. The city is situated close to the Moro Gulf and the Sulu Sea -- two rich fishing grounds.
Gensan's critical infrastructures and services have been reinforced over the years, largely to brace the huge potential of the city's export-oriented tuna fishing and canning industries. The city's world-class fish port provides boats modern support facilities, including cold storage, ice plants and contact freezers.
Gensan also has an international airport that can handle large aircraft, thus allowing fresh produce to quickly reach lucrative export markets as far as North America and Europe.
A big producer of cattle and hog, and with rich mineral deposits that remain largely untapped, the city is the primary industrial and trading hub of Socsargen (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Saranggani-Gensan).
All locators in ecozones, whether privately or publicly owned, enjoy preferential final tax and all other financial incentives under the Special Economic Zone Act. Foreign investors are also entitled to special resident status, among other privileges.
"Manny could have easily stashed the riches he earned from boxing in passive investments in bank deposits and marketable securities. Instead, he has opted to put his money in a highly productive investment – in building factories – that help create badly needed new jobs," said TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera.
"For this, we commend Manny. We hope that other Filipinos who have achieved great success and accumulated unusual wealth on account of their professions would do the same," Herrera said in a statement.
Herrera said it was noteworthy that a day after Pacquiao’s plan became public, the Social Weather Stations released the results of a survey indicating that hunger is now most severe among families of workers who recently lost their gainful employment.
Manny Pacquiao Heights Development Corp. (MPHDC) intends to install a 200-hectare special economic zone as part of a mixed-use project on a 400-hectare company-owned estate in General Santos City (Gensan).
"Manny is actually realizing a plan that has long been pending in Congress," Herrera said, adding bills seeking to establish a state-run ecozone in Gensan have been pending in the Senate and the House of Representatives for several years now.
"An ecozone in Gensan will definitely stimulate growth in a big way throughout Mindanao, and build up the Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area," Herrera said.
The country’s tuna capital, Gensan is known for its vast marine resources. The city is situated close to the Moro Gulf and the Sulu Sea -- two rich fishing grounds.
Gensan's critical infrastructures and services have been reinforced over the years, largely to brace the huge potential of the city's export-oriented tuna fishing and canning industries. The city's world-class fish port provides boats modern support facilities, including cold storage, ice plants and contact freezers.
Gensan also has an international airport that can handle large aircraft, thus allowing fresh produce to quickly reach lucrative export markets as far as North America and Europe.
A big producer of cattle and hog, and with rich mineral deposits that remain largely untapped, the city is the primary industrial and trading hub of Socsargen (South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Saranggani-Gensan).
All locators in ecozones, whether privately or publicly owned, enjoy preferential final tax and all other financial incentives under the Special Economic Zone Act. Foreign investors are also entitled to special resident status, among other privileges.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Poll on record high joblessness "highly credible" - TUCP
MANILA, Philippines - Despite Malacañang’s disbelief, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said it found "highly credible" the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey indicating that joblessness among adult Filipinos may have hit a record high of 34.2 percent in the last three months.
"The country lost a total of $7.615 billion worth of exports from October 2008 to February 2009. At $1: P48, this is equal to P365.52 billion in sales that suddenly vanished," said TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera.
"The P365.52 billion is equal to slightly more than one-fourth of this year’s P1.414 trillion national budget. And we lost the sales not in 12 months, but in six months," Herrera pointed out.
"This alone should give us a fair sense as to the severity of the job losses in the export sector as well as other industries providing goods and services to exporters and their workers," added Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.
Herrera said nobody really wants to talk the economy and jobs down. "Everybody would prefer to talks things up. But the reality is, the world is in a harsh economic downturn not seen since the Great Depression. And there is no escaping this reality," he said.
Still, Herrera said he has high hopes the economy, exporters and employment would be able to recover once the global recession ends. He said the first to mend would be exporters that "over-retrenched" their staff.
"Once foreign orders start trickling in and exporters realize they no longer have the workers required to meet demand, they will start rehiring quickly," he said.
In the meantime, Herrera said TUCP is helping the Department of Labor and Employment carry out "skills retooling and alternative livelihood support programs" for displaced workers as well as new labor force participants.
Last week, the National Statistics Office reported that Philippine exports, led by semiconductors and electronics, crashed by 30.9 percent in March to $2.9 billion compared to the $4.2 billion posted in the same month in 2008.
Prior to this, exports plunged by 39.1 percent in February to $2.504 billion from $4.112 billion a year ago; by 41 percent in January to $2.494 billion from $4.230 billion; by 40.4 percent in December to $2.672 billion from $4.481 billion; by 11.9 percent in November to $3.494 billion from $3.964 billion; and by 14.9 percent in October to $3.967 billion from $4.659 billion.
The First Quarter 2009 SWS survey, fielded over Feb. 20 to 23, found joblessness rising to 34.2 percent or about 14 million Filipino adults, from 27.9 percent or some 11 million in the prior quarter.
"The country lost a total of $7.615 billion worth of exports from October 2008 to February 2009. At $1: P48, this is equal to P365.52 billion in sales that suddenly vanished," said TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera.
"The P365.52 billion is equal to slightly more than one-fourth of this year’s P1.414 trillion national budget. And we lost the sales not in 12 months, but in six months," Herrera pointed out.
"This alone should give us a fair sense as to the severity of the job losses in the export sector as well as other industries providing goods and services to exporters and their workers," added Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.
Herrera said nobody really wants to talk the economy and jobs down. "Everybody would prefer to talks things up. But the reality is, the world is in a harsh economic downturn not seen since the Great Depression. And there is no escaping this reality," he said.
Still, Herrera said he has high hopes the economy, exporters and employment would be able to recover once the global recession ends. He said the first to mend would be exporters that "over-retrenched" their staff.
"Once foreign orders start trickling in and exporters realize they no longer have the workers required to meet demand, they will start rehiring quickly," he said.
In the meantime, Herrera said TUCP is helping the Department of Labor and Employment carry out "skills retooling and alternative livelihood support programs" for displaced workers as well as new labor force participants.
Last week, the National Statistics Office reported that Philippine exports, led by semiconductors and electronics, crashed by 30.9 percent in March to $2.9 billion compared to the $4.2 billion posted in the same month in 2008.
Prior to this, exports plunged by 39.1 percent in February to $2.504 billion from $4.112 billion a year ago; by 41 percent in January to $2.494 billion from $4.230 billion; by 40.4 percent in December to $2.672 billion from $4.481 billion; by 11.9 percent in November to $3.494 billion from $3.964 billion; and by 14.9 percent in October to $3.967 billion from $4.659 billion.
The First Quarter 2009 SWS survey, fielded over Feb. 20 to 23, found joblessness rising to 34.2 percent or about 14 million Filipino adults, from 27.9 percent or some 11 million in the prior quarter.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
20,746 Pinoy nurses sought US jobs in 2008
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 17, 2009) - Despite the global economic meltdown that has hit the United States hard, with some 2.6 million Americans losing their jobs in the last 12 months, more than 20,000 Filipino nurses still indicated their desire to practice their profession in that country by taking the US licensure examination last year, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said.
Former Senator and TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera said a total of 20,746 Filipino nurses took NCLEX for the first time in 2008. The NCLEX refers to the National Council Licensure Examination administered by the US (National Council) of State Boards of Nursing Inc. (USNCSBN).
Herrera said the 20,746 represents a decline of 3.5 percent, or 753 fewer compared to the 21,499 Filipino nurses that took the NCLEX for the first time in 2007.
The 20,746 also brought to 66,597 the total number of Filipino nurses that indicated their desire to enter the US nursing profession by taking the NCLEX for the first time since 2005, according to Herrera, former chairman of the Senate labor, employment and human resources development committee.
Citing USNCSBN statistics, Herrera said a total of 9,181 Filipino nurses took the NCLEX for the first time in 2005; 15,171 in 2006; and 21,499 in 2007.
Herrera said the slight decrease in the number of Filipino nurses that took the NCLEX for the first time in 2008 "does not necessarily suggest a trend."
"It is too early to say whether there is a downtrend, considering the drop was marginal, and came after huge increases of 65 percent in 2006 and 42 percent in 2007," he pointed out.
"Based on the initial feedback that we got from the NCLEX testing center here in Manila, which opened only in August 2007, there is a long waiting period before nurses can actually take the test. This is because so many have already lined up to take the test, and the center can only accommodate so many takers at a time," Herrera added.
Herrera earlier said only the Healthcare and education sectors in the US are actually creating new jobs, and that the rest of that country's economic segments are either reducing personnel, or have ceased hiring.
But on Friday, even one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms, New York City-based Pfizer Inc., said it was laying off a third of its 8,000 sales staff in the US, and eliminating 800 research positions.
Herrera, meanwhile, urged Filipino nurses that have been recruited by American employers or their Philippine agencies to get hold of the "Voluntary Code for the Recruitment of Foreign-Educated Nurses to the United States."
"The document, available online, is a must-read for every Filipino nurse planning to work in America," he said.
Herrera said the code essentially binds subscribers, including recruiters and employers, to minimum ethical standards in order to discourage abuses and to prevent the exploitation and discrimination of Filipino and other foreign-educated nurses in the US.
Former Senator and TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera said a total of 20,746 Filipino nurses took NCLEX for the first time in 2008. The NCLEX refers to the National Council Licensure Examination administered by the US (National Council) of State Boards of Nursing Inc. (USNCSBN).
Herrera said the 20,746 represents a decline of 3.5 percent, or 753 fewer compared to the 21,499 Filipino nurses that took the NCLEX for the first time in 2007.
The 20,746 also brought to 66,597 the total number of Filipino nurses that indicated their desire to enter the US nursing profession by taking the NCLEX for the first time since 2005, according to Herrera, former chairman of the Senate labor, employment and human resources development committee.
Citing USNCSBN statistics, Herrera said a total of 9,181 Filipino nurses took the NCLEX for the first time in 2005; 15,171 in 2006; and 21,499 in 2007.
Herrera said the slight decrease in the number of Filipino nurses that took the NCLEX for the first time in 2008 "does not necessarily suggest a trend."
"It is too early to say whether there is a downtrend, considering the drop was marginal, and came after huge increases of 65 percent in 2006 and 42 percent in 2007," he pointed out.
"Based on the initial feedback that we got from the NCLEX testing center here in Manila, which opened only in August 2007, there is a long waiting period before nurses can actually take the test. This is because so many have already lined up to take the test, and the center can only accommodate so many takers at a time," Herrera added.
Herrera earlier said only the Healthcare and education sectors in the US are actually creating new jobs, and that the rest of that country's economic segments are either reducing personnel, or have ceased hiring.
But on Friday, even one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms, New York City-based Pfizer Inc., said it was laying off a third of its 8,000 sales staff in the US, and eliminating 800 research positions.
Herrera, meanwhile, urged Filipino nurses that have been recruited by American employers or their Philippine agencies to get hold of the "Voluntary Code for the Recruitment of Foreign-Educated Nurses to the United States."
"The document, available online, is a must-read for every Filipino nurse planning to work in America," he said.
Herrera said the code essentially binds subscribers, including recruiters and employers, to minimum ethical standards in order to discourage abuses and to prevent the exploitation and discrimination of Filipino and other foreign-educated nurses in the US.
Monday, November 03, 2008
House urged to pass Senate-approved bill doubling teachers’ pay
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 3, 2008) - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has urged the House of Representatives to promptly pass the Senate-approved bill seeking to increase by P9,000 or double the minimum basic pay for the country's public school teachers.
"House leaders should now stop paying lip service to the plight of our more than 500,000 public school teachers, and waste no time in passing the bill that the Senate already approved two months ago," TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera, said in a statement.
Herrera was referring to Senate Bill (SB) 2408, principally authored by Sen. Loren Legarda. The bill proposes to raise from Salary Grade 10 to 19 the entry-level pay classification for teachers in public elementary and high schools.
This means their initial monthly pay would be jacked up to a new range of P18,471 to P21,995. The existing range is P10,933 to P12,997.
On top of the preliminary P9,000-increase, public school teachers would also get a P3,000-pay raise every three years.
Once approved, the initial adjustment would likewise automatically set off commensurate pay increases for every teacher in the public school system currently receiving compensation higher than the starting rate.
Herrera stressed the need for Congress "to redeem public school teachers from grinding poverty and restore the nobility of the teaching profession."
He warned that unless the House passes the Senate-approved bill, the public school system would continue to lose thousands of highly qualified instructors forced to seek greener pasture overseas, or here in the private sector.
Herrera noted that English-speaking Filipino teachers continue to leave in droves for overseas employment, particularly for the United States, where they get up to $4,000 monthly.
"Advancing in a big way the quality of life of our teachers and keeping them constantly motivated is the best way for Congress to check and reverse the rapid decline of basic education," Herrera pointed out.
Once SB 2408 is enacted, the first-year pay for public school teachers would be almost 25 percent higher than the P15,000 average starting pay for their counterparts in the private sector.
House Bill 4734, principally authored by Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Iligan, is the counterpart of SB 2408. Ilagan’s bill has been pending with the House appropriations committee since July 2007.
"House leaders should now stop paying lip service to the plight of our more than 500,000 public school teachers, and waste no time in passing the bill that the Senate already approved two months ago," TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera, said in a statement.
Herrera was referring to Senate Bill (SB) 2408, principally authored by Sen. Loren Legarda. The bill proposes to raise from Salary Grade 10 to 19 the entry-level pay classification for teachers in public elementary and high schools.
This means their initial monthly pay would be jacked up to a new range of P18,471 to P21,995. The existing range is P10,933 to P12,997.
On top of the preliminary P9,000-increase, public school teachers would also get a P3,000-pay raise every three years.
Once approved, the initial adjustment would likewise automatically set off commensurate pay increases for every teacher in the public school system currently receiving compensation higher than the starting rate.
Herrera stressed the need for Congress "to redeem public school teachers from grinding poverty and restore the nobility of the teaching profession."
He warned that unless the House passes the Senate-approved bill, the public school system would continue to lose thousands of highly qualified instructors forced to seek greener pasture overseas, or here in the private sector.
Herrera noted that English-speaking Filipino teachers continue to leave in droves for overseas employment, particularly for the United States, where they get up to $4,000 monthly.
"Advancing in a big way the quality of life of our teachers and keeping them constantly motivated is the best way for Congress to check and reverse the rapid decline of basic education," Herrera pointed out.
Once SB 2408 is enacted, the first-year pay for public school teachers would be almost 25 percent higher than the P15,000 average starting pay for their counterparts in the private sector.
House Bill 4734, principally authored by Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Iligan, is the counterpart of SB 2408. Ilagan’s bill has been pending with the House appropriations committee since July 2007.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Bare Overseas Investments, GSIS Urged
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 22, 2008) - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Sunday slammed the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for its "absolute lack of transparency with respect to its investments overseas."
"GSIS pensioners and members are entitled to know how much of their money has actually been stashed overseas, and in what financial products the money has been invested," said Ernesto Herrera, TUCP secretary-general.
"Retired and active government employees as well as their dependents have a right to be informed as to how our hard-earned contributions are being managed here and overseas. And GSIS officials have a duty to fully disclose the manner by which the funds are being invested," Herrera, a former senator, said.
Last year, the GSIS said it would invest up to $1 billion or P47 billion abroad under a new global investment program. Recently, however, senators have called into question the program's wisdom, amid the worsening global financial crisis set off by the sub prime mortgage meltdown in the US.
The crisis has taken its toll on at least seven large Philippine commercial banks that have so far reported $386 million (P18.1 billion) in losses on account of their exposures to Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
The 158-year-old US investment bank sought bankruptcy protection on Sept. 15 due to staggering losses brought about by spoiled investments in housing mortgages. The investments failed as a result of surging foreclosures and plunging home prices in the US.
Herrera, former chairman of the Senate labor, employment and human resources development committee, assailed the GSIS for treating the funds that it holds in trust "as if these are private funds for which they are not directly accountable."
He added: "Why is the GSIS being so secretive? Why can't they just come clean and tell us where the money has been parked so that pensioners and members can sleep better at night?"
"Right now, the only thing we know about the $1 billion is that it is supposedly being managed by Credit Agricole Asset Management Ltd. and ING Investment Management, and that Citibank N.A. is the fund custodian," Herrera said.
This means that New York-based Citibank has custody of the funds, but moves the money as instructed by managers at Paris-based Credit Agricole and Amsterdam-based ING.
The GSIS earlier said the money it has hoarded overseas has not been affected by the financial distress "because the funds have been oriented more toward Europe than the US."
"That is a lame excuse for the continuing secrecy and utter lack of transparency. The truth is, Europe has been among the hardest hit by the global financial crunch sparked by widespread defaults on low-grade home mortgages in the US," Herrera pointed out.
He added that several banks and investment funds in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Switzerland have either collapsed or have been bailed out by their governments.
"No financial instrument is absolutely safe nowadays -- not even traditional money market funds that had to be backed with $50 billion by the US government a few days ago just so (fund) managers can service withdrawals at face value," Herrera said.
"GSIS pensioners and members are entitled to know how much of their money has actually been stashed overseas, and in what financial products the money has been invested," said Ernesto Herrera, TUCP secretary-general.
"Retired and active government employees as well as their dependents have a right to be informed as to how our hard-earned contributions are being managed here and overseas. And GSIS officials have a duty to fully disclose the manner by which the funds are being invested," Herrera, a former senator, said.
Last year, the GSIS said it would invest up to $1 billion or P47 billion abroad under a new global investment program. Recently, however, senators have called into question the program's wisdom, amid the worsening global financial crisis set off by the sub prime mortgage meltdown in the US.
The crisis has taken its toll on at least seven large Philippine commercial banks that have so far reported $386 million (P18.1 billion) in losses on account of their exposures to Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
The 158-year-old US investment bank sought bankruptcy protection on Sept. 15 due to staggering losses brought about by spoiled investments in housing mortgages. The investments failed as a result of surging foreclosures and plunging home prices in the US.
Herrera, former chairman of the Senate labor, employment and human resources development committee, assailed the GSIS for treating the funds that it holds in trust "as if these are private funds for which they are not directly accountable."
He added: "Why is the GSIS being so secretive? Why can't they just come clean and tell us where the money has been parked so that pensioners and members can sleep better at night?"
"Right now, the only thing we know about the $1 billion is that it is supposedly being managed by Credit Agricole Asset Management Ltd. and ING Investment Management, and that Citibank N.A. is the fund custodian," Herrera said.
This means that New York-based Citibank has custody of the funds, but moves the money as instructed by managers at Paris-based Credit Agricole and Amsterdam-based ING.
The GSIS earlier said the money it has hoarded overseas has not been affected by the financial distress "because the funds have been oriented more toward Europe than the US."
"That is a lame excuse for the continuing secrecy and utter lack of transparency. The truth is, Europe has been among the hardest hit by the global financial crunch sparked by widespread defaults on low-grade home mortgages in the US," Herrera pointed out.
He added that several banks and investment funds in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Switzerland have either collapsed or have been bailed out by their governments.
"No financial instrument is absolutely safe nowadays -- not even traditional money market funds that had to be backed with $50 billion by the US government a few days ago just so (fund) managers can service withdrawals at face value," Herrera said.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Philippine Labor Group Backs Visa-For-Jobs Plan
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 20, 2008) - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said Saturday it is backing the Bureau of Immigration's proposal to establish a new visa program that would allow qualified foreigners to stay indefinitely in the country, provided they invest here and fully employ at least 10 Filipinos.
"The plan jibes with our prior proposal for the government to lead in jobs creation, and for all agencies to consciously use their policies and programs to generate badly needed new employment," said Ernesto Herrera, TUCP secretary-general.
TUCP has been pushing for a national employment plan that would mandate every agency and state-owned firm to carry out more labor-intensive projects. To make sure these agencies do, Herrera said Congress should consider as factors for approving their annual budgets not only their performance, but also the number of jobs they were able to provide in the prior year.
The immigration office intends to adopt a new visa program wherein a foreigner who invests here and directly engages at least 10 Filipinos workers would be extended the privilege of an indefinite stay. The plan is awaiting approval by Malacañang, which is expected to issue an executive order on the guidelines, Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said.
As proposed, the special non-immigrant visa may be issued to certain classes of aliens in viable and sustainable professional, micro-macro financing, entrepreneurial, corporate, banking, scientific, technological, industrial, telecommunications, teletranscriptions, eco-tourism, medico-pharmaceutical, herbal-therapeutic and commercial enterprises.
Herrera stressed that under the Constitution, the government is "duty-bound to promote full employment to ensure a rising standard of living for all Filipinos."
"The government should ensure maximum jobs creation in every public project. Each agency should be compelled to set achievable employment targets. Then an inter-agency panel should monitor performance in terms of jobs creation," Herrera said.
As to the private sector, Herrera said loan applications with government financial institutions as well as petitions for tax incentives with the Board of Investments should be approved based on the number of jobs the projects to be funded or new ventures would create.
He said government should focus on infrastructure projects that have the highest job-creation potential and generate the greatest returns. He said these projects, such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation facilities, mass transit systems and schools, are also urgently needed.
Whether such projects involve new construction or maintenance, Herrera said they provide direct employment, help lower cost of production and consequently, also lower the prices of goods.
In a country with high rates of joblessness and underemployment, capital-intensive methods of production are highly questionable, according to Herrera, also former chairman of the Senate labor, employment and human resources development committee.
"Jobs provide people with incomes that enable them to buy goods and services or to save. The increase in consumption stimulates the market, revives the economy and provides revenue for government. And the accumulation of savings provides funds for investment," Herrera added.
Earlier this week, the National Statistics Office reported that the country's unemployment rate stood at 7.4 percent as of July 2008, with a total of 2.75 million Filipinos considered totally jobless. The percentage of underemployed Filipinos, or those who have jobs but want to work more, increased to 21 percent of total employed, it said.
"The plan jibes with our prior proposal for the government to lead in jobs creation, and for all agencies to consciously use their policies and programs to generate badly needed new employment," said Ernesto Herrera, TUCP secretary-general.
TUCP has been pushing for a national employment plan that would mandate every agency and state-owned firm to carry out more labor-intensive projects. To make sure these agencies do, Herrera said Congress should consider as factors for approving their annual budgets not only their performance, but also the number of jobs they were able to provide in the prior year.
The immigration office intends to adopt a new visa program wherein a foreigner who invests here and directly engages at least 10 Filipinos workers would be extended the privilege of an indefinite stay. The plan is awaiting approval by Malacañang, which is expected to issue an executive order on the guidelines, Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said.
As proposed, the special non-immigrant visa may be issued to certain classes of aliens in viable and sustainable professional, micro-macro financing, entrepreneurial, corporate, banking, scientific, technological, industrial, telecommunications, teletranscriptions, eco-tourism, medico-pharmaceutical, herbal-therapeutic and commercial enterprises.
Herrera stressed that under the Constitution, the government is "duty-bound to promote full employment to ensure a rising standard of living for all Filipinos."
"The government should ensure maximum jobs creation in every public project. Each agency should be compelled to set achievable employment targets. Then an inter-agency panel should monitor performance in terms of jobs creation," Herrera said.
As to the private sector, Herrera said loan applications with government financial institutions as well as petitions for tax incentives with the Board of Investments should be approved based on the number of jobs the projects to be funded or new ventures would create.
He said government should focus on infrastructure projects that have the highest job-creation potential and generate the greatest returns. He said these projects, such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation facilities, mass transit systems and schools, are also urgently needed.
Whether such projects involve new construction or maintenance, Herrera said they provide direct employment, help lower cost of production and consequently, also lower the prices of goods.
In a country with high rates of joblessness and underemployment, capital-intensive methods of production are highly questionable, according to Herrera, also former chairman of the Senate labor, employment and human resources development committee.
"Jobs provide people with incomes that enable them to buy goods and services or to save. The increase in consumption stimulates the market, revives the economy and provides revenue for government. And the accumulation of savings provides funds for investment," Herrera added.
Earlier this week, the National Statistics Office reported that the country's unemployment rate stood at 7.4 percent as of July 2008, with a total of 2.75 million Filipinos considered totally jobless. The percentage of underemployed Filipinos, or those who have jobs but want to work more, increased to 21 percent of total employed, it said.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Philippine Labor Group To Help Sell High-Quality, Low-Priced Medicines
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 7, 2008) - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Sunday said it will establish a network of outlets to help resell high quality, but low-priced medicines to marginal families, particularly those dependent on fixed-wage earners.
"We are just waiting for the implementing guidelines of the new law. Once they are finalized, we will definitely come in and give more meaning to the law by getting involved in the retail distribution of imported, affordable medicines," said Ernesto Herrera, TUCP secretary general.
Herrera was referring to the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law of 2008, or Republic Act 9502.
"We've already had preliminary discussions with Senator Mar Roxas on the matter. He has promised to help us find ways to make vital medicines more accessible to workers," Herrera said in a statement.
Roxas is principal author of RA 9502 and chairman of the Senate committee on trade and commerce.
Herrera said the labor center may get its supply of medicines from the state-run Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), just like the Botika ng Bayan outlets, or from other accredited importers.
"We may enlist the help of member-labor federations, local unions or even a number of partners from the private sector, if necessary," Herrera added.
"Affordable medicines have become an absolute necessity, especially now that workers and other consumers have to cope with soaring food and other commodity prices," Herrera pointed out.
Herrera made the statement shortly after the Drug Store Association of the Philippines (DSAP) expressed concern over a provision in RA 9502 that requires all pharmacies to carry certain medicines imported by the government via the PITC.
The DSAP stated its concern during a recent public hearing conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) to solicit the inputs of consumers, the pharmaceutical industry and medical groups before the IRR of RA 9502 is drawn up. The DOH held its second public hearing on the IRR on Sept. 5 in Angeles City.
The DOH has a Nov. 4 deadline to release the IRR of the new law, which seeks to provide Filipinos greater access to inexpensive drugs by reinforcing the PITC's parallel importation scheme, and by allowing any entity to import patented medicines sold cheaper in other countries.
The new law relaxes existing patent rules by declaring that parallel importation does not violate trademarks, as long as the medicines brought in are determined to be genuine counterparts produced in other countries.
Herrera lamented that health protection in the country remains grossly inadequate, with only one of every three citizens covered by medical insurance. He said the government's insufficient financial resources have hampered universal health insurance coverage.
As a result, Herrera said Filipinos have to take out of their own pockets more than 40 percent of all health-related spending, including the purchase of high-priced medicines.
"We are just waiting for the implementing guidelines of the new law. Once they are finalized, we will definitely come in and give more meaning to the law by getting involved in the retail distribution of imported, affordable medicines," said Ernesto Herrera, TUCP secretary general.
Herrera was referring to the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law of 2008, or Republic Act 9502.
"We've already had preliminary discussions with Senator Mar Roxas on the matter. He has promised to help us find ways to make vital medicines more accessible to workers," Herrera said in a statement.
Roxas is principal author of RA 9502 and chairman of the Senate committee on trade and commerce.
Herrera said the labor center may get its supply of medicines from the state-run Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), just like the Botika ng Bayan outlets, or from other accredited importers.
"We may enlist the help of member-labor federations, local unions or even a number of partners from the private sector, if necessary," Herrera added.
"Affordable medicines have become an absolute necessity, especially now that workers and other consumers have to cope with soaring food and other commodity prices," Herrera pointed out.
Herrera made the statement shortly after the Drug Store Association of the Philippines (DSAP) expressed concern over a provision in RA 9502 that requires all pharmacies to carry certain medicines imported by the government via the PITC.
The DSAP stated its concern during a recent public hearing conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) to solicit the inputs of consumers, the pharmaceutical industry and medical groups before the IRR of RA 9502 is drawn up. The DOH held its second public hearing on the IRR on Sept. 5 in Angeles City.
The DOH has a Nov. 4 deadline to release the IRR of the new law, which seeks to provide Filipinos greater access to inexpensive drugs by reinforcing the PITC's parallel importation scheme, and by allowing any entity to import patented medicines sold cheaper in other countries.
The new law relaxes existing patent rules by declaring that parallel importation does not violate trademarks, as long as the medicines brought in are determined to be genuine counterparts produced in other countries.
Herrera lamented that health protection in the country remains grossly inadequate, with only one of every three citizens covered by medical insurance. He said the government's insufficient financial resources have hampered universal health insurance coverage.
As a result, Herrera said Filipinos have to take out of their own pockets more than 40 percent of all health-related spending, including the purchase of high-priced medicines.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Filipino Nurses Continue To Seek Jobs In America
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 02, 2008) - More and more Filipino nurses have been trying to get jobs abroad because of huge pay and opportunities that await them rather than work in the Philippines.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Saturday said a total of 9,837 Filipino nurses took the United States licensure examination for the first time from January to June this year.
Ernesto Herrera, TUCP secretary-general, said the number of Filipino nurses who took the NCLEX and implicitly sought jobs in the US in the first semester was roughly steady -- just 107 shy of the year-ago takers. He said a total of 9,944 Filipino nurses took the examination in the first half of 2007.
The NCLEX refers to the National Council Licensure Examination administered by the US (National Council of) State Boards of Nursing Incorporated (NCSBN).
In the whole of 2007, a record total of 21,499 Filipinos took the NCLEX for the first time (excluding repeaters). This was up 6,328 or 42 percent compared to the 15,171 Filipinos that took the NCLEX for the first time in 2006, according to the former senator.
The TUCP has been an aggressive backer of the country’s nurse practitioners.
The labor group has been pushing the deployment of Filipino nurses to lucrative job markets overseas, saying professionals should enjoy the right to take their skills to where these would get the greatest reward.
For years, Herrera has been urging regulators to close down a growing number of substandard nursing schools.
"Regulators should now be extra vigilant, and see to it that nursing students are kept away from low-grade schools," said Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.
He cited the need for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to shield parents and students from the proliferation of so-called "diploma mills.""We must stress that regulators are duty-bound to safeguard the hopes and dreams of tens of thousands of Filipino families to produce a nurse practitioner who will eventually lead them to a better quality of life," Herrera said.
At present, almost 500,000 students are enrolled in nursing schools nationwide, according to the CHED. Of the 132,187 graduates that took the last two Philippine nursing licensure tests in December 2007 and June this year, only 56,689 less than 43 percent passed, according to Herrera.
Last month, a Commission on Audit report revealed that of 263 nursing schools, only 111 had at least 50 percent of their graduates pass the Philippine licensure tests from 2001 to 2005.
Like the TUCP, the COA blamed the CHED for the problem, for failing to promptly close down deficient schools and raise the quality of nursing education.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Saturday said a total of 9,837 Filipino nurses took the United States licensure examination for the first time from January to June this year.
Ernesto Herrera, TUCP secretary-general, said the number of Filipino nurses who took the NCLEX and implicitly sought jobs in the US in the first semester was roughly steady -- just 107 shy of the year-ago takers. He said a total of 9,944 Filipino nurses took the examination in the first half of 2007.
The NCLEX refers to the National Council Licensure Examination administered by the US (National Council of) State Boards of Nursing Incorporated (NCSBN).
In the whole of 2007, a record total of 21,499 Filipinos took the NCLEX for the first time (excluding repeaters). This was up 6,328 or 42 percent compared to the 15,171 Filipinos that took the NCLEX for the first time in 2006, according to the former senator.
The TUCP has been an aggressive backer of the country’s nurse practitioners.
The labor group has been pushing the deployment of Filipino nurses to lucrative job markets overseas, saying professionals should enjoy the right to take their skills to where these would get the greatest reward.
For years, Herrera has been urging regulators to close down a growing number of substandard nursing schools.
"Regulators should now be extra vigilant, and see to it that nursing students are kept away from low-grade schools," said Herrera, former chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development.
He cited the need for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to shield parents and students from the proliferation of so-called "diploma mills.""We must stress that regulators are duty-bound to safeguard the hopes and dreams of tens of thousands of Filipino families to produce a nurse practitioner who will eventually lead them to a better quality of life," Herrera said.
At present, almost 500,000 students are enrolled in nursing schools nationwide, according to the CHED. Of the 132,187 graduates that took the last two Philippine nursing licensure tests in December 2007 and June this year, only 56,689 less than 43 percent passed, according to Herrera.
Last month, a Commission on Audit report revealed that of 263 nursing schools, only 111 had at least 50 percent of their graduates pass the Philippine licensure tests from 2001 to 2005.
Like the TUCP, the COA blamed the CHED for the problem, for failing to promptly close down deficient schools and raise the quality of nursing education.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Pass The Affordable Medicines Bill Now, Trade Group Urged Congress
Statement of TUCP Secretary-General and former Senator Ernesto Herreraon the Delay in the Passage of the Proposed Affordable Medicines Act.
We urge Congress to instantly pass the Affordable Medicines Bill to provide relief to the working class, many of who are already suffering from high oil and food prices. The right to affordable medicines is our constitutional right. We should not be deprived this right by those who have vested interests in seeing this bill derailed.
If this bill is deferred, then what more can we look forward to from our legislators on Labor Day?
• Regional wage boards are still deliberating petitions for a wage hike;
• Tax exemption for minimum wage earners has yet to pass the House of Representatives;
• A reduction in the EVAT for oil is not even in the horizon.
Meanwhile, millions of workers suffer from work-related ailments that require medicines and treatment. Sadly, these workers are now being forced to choose between food on the table and medicines for their health. This bill will give them a fighting chance for better health.
The proposed Affordable Medicines Act is already at the bicameral conference committee.
Insisting on the inclusion of a drug price regulatory board at this late stage of the legislative process brings forth the question of motives. Why hold the entire bill hostage to this obsession for a drug price board? This can be a potential source of red tape and corruption.
We absolutely favor the Senate version, which gives the Secretary of Health the authority to review drug prices and to recommend to the President as to which medicines should be price-regulated for public good.
We renew our call on the House of Representatives and Speaker Prospero Nograles: Pass the Affordable Medicines Bill NOW!
We urge Congress to instantly pass the Affordable Medicines Bill to provide relief to the working class, many of who are already suffering from high oil and food prices. The right to affordable medicines is our constitutional right. We should not be deprived this right by those who have vested interests in seeing this bill derailed.
If this bill is deferred, then what more can we look forward to from our legislators on Labor Day?
• Regional wage boards are still deliberating petitions for a wage hike;
• Tax exemption for minimum wage earners has yet to pass the House of Representatives;
• A reduction in the EVAT for oil is not even in the horizon.
Meanwhile, millions of workers suffer from work-related ailments that require medicines and treatment. Sadly, these workers are now being forced to choose between food on the table and medicines for their health. This bill will give them a fighting chance for better health.
The proposed Affordable Medicines Act is already at the bicameral conference committee.
Insisting on the inclusion of a drug price regulatory board at this late stage of the legislative process brings forth the question of motives. Why hold the entire bill hostage to this obsession for a drug price board? This can be a potential source of red tape and corruption.
We absolutely favor the Senate version, which gives the Secretary of Health the authority to review drug prices and to recommend to the President as to which medicines should be price-regulated for public good.
We renew our call on the House of Representatives and Speaker Prospero Nograles: Pass the Affordable Medicines Bill NOW!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Exodus Of Pinoy Nurses Continue
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 26, 2007) - More than 21,000 new Filipino nurses sought employment in the United States last year and the exodus continue, draining the country of much needed hospital professionals.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said a total of 21,499 Filipinos took the US National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for nurses for the first time -- excluding repeaters -- from January to December 2007.
This represents an increase of 6,328 or 42 percent compared to the 15,171 Filipinos that took the NCLEX for the first time in the whole of 2006, TUCP spokesperson Alex Aguilar, said.
He said the 2007 NCLEX statistics, released Jan. 24 by the US National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), only shows the Philippines' position as America's top provider of foreign nurses.
Aguilar said the Philippines readily topped the five countries with the most number of nationals taking the NCLEX for the first time in 2007. India came second, with 5,370 examinees; followed by South Korea, 1,906; Canada, 888; and Cuba, 673.
Passing the NCLEX is usually the final step in the nurse licensure process in the US. Thus, the number of people taking the examination is a reliable indicator of how many new US-educated as well as foreign-trained nurses are trying to enter the profession in the US.
TUCP's disclosure came a day after the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) expressed confidence that global demand for Filipino workers would remain robust despite fears of an economic slump in the US.
Many foreign countries, particularly the developed ones, are still approaching the Philippines wanting to recruit Filipino workers, particularly professionals and other skilled personnel, POEA chief Rosalinda Baldoz said.
"Foreign employers come to us because they are short of capable workers and their nationals refuse to handle the dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs," Baldoz said.
Even in the US, where there are fears of a looming recession, Baldoz said they see a growing demand for nurses as well as temporary workers in hotels.
Buoyed by record high crude oil prices, Middle Eastern countries also need thousands of foreign workers to support heightened economic activity in that part of the world, she added.
The TUCP has been pushing the deployment of surplus nurses and other highly skilled workers to lucrative job markets overseas.
"Our sense is, if we must advance the export of services, we might as well consciously encourage the deployment highly skilled surplus professionals such as nurses, who are generally immune from employer mistreatment," Aguilar said.
He said the government should "purposely discourage" the overseas deployment of unskilled workers such as domestic helpers. "Their skills are easily replaceable. This is why they are undeniably far more susceptible to employer abuse," he added.
Aguilar said Filipino nurses looking for greener pastures could definitely count on greater employment opportunities in the US, where more than 800 new hospitals would be put up until 2012.
He said some 78 million American baby boomers -- those born between 1946 to 1964 -- now comprise 26 percent of the 300-million US population. The oldest baby boomers started turning 60 years old in 2006, he added.
"These seniors and the deluge of migrants from Mexico are creating a huge demand for hospitalization and health care in the US," Aguilar pointed out.
Aguilar played down fears of a brain drain with the continuing deployment of Filipino nurses to overseas labor markets.
"We are now producing nurses at a rate of 100,000 to 150,000 every year, and less than five percent of them are getting employed locally, either by the government or the private sector. So we definitely have a large surplus of nurses," he said.
Just last August, he noted that the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) admitted to the local nursing profession a total of 31,275 candidates who passed June 2007 licensure examination.
This does not include the thousands of candidates who took the December 2007 nursing eligibility examination, the results of which will be released soon.
On top of those who took the December examination, the PRC earlier said it expects anywhere from 80,000 to 100,000 nursing graduates to take the June 2008 licensure test.
Meanwhile, TUCP renewed its objection to a House bill that seeks to require nurses who obtained government-subsidized schooling to render at least two years of compulsory local service before they can leave for overseas employment.
The labor group was referring to a bill that seeks to oblige nursing graduates of state colleges and universities to perform 24 months of mandatory service here before they may be lawfully recruited to work abroad.
Aguilar said the bill was "totally counterproductive and uncalled-for," considering the massive oversupply of nurses in the local labor market.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Med Transcriptionist Now 2nd Highest-Paid Health Workers
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 10, 2007) - Medical transcriptionists are now the second highest-paid workers in the health sector, after medical doctors, according to the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
Citing the results of the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics' latest Occupational Wages Survey, TUCP spokesperson Alex Aguilar said medical transcriptionists are now earning substantially higher compensation income compared to medical technologists, nurses and even dentists.
According to survey, medical transcriptionists get an average of P10,757 in monthly wages.
This rate is P1,462 or 16 percent higher than the average of P9,295 received by medical technologists; P1,813 or 20 percent higher than the P8,944 received by nurses; and P3,722 or 53 percent higher than the P7,035 received by dentists.
Medical doctors received an average of P18,134 in monthly wages.
The survey covered only compensation income earners in medical, dental and other health jobs, as opposed to those earning professional fees.
Aguilar said employment growth in outsourced medical transcription services is expected to outpace considerably the 25-percent annual jobs expansion in the country’s booming contact centers.
He said medical transcription jobs are projected to increase at an average annual rate of 90 percent through 2010.
"The growth of medical transcription services is assured, as long as we have enough supply of capable human resources," he said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Aguilar said fresh graduates of nursing, pharmacy, medical technology, public health, physical therapy and other allied medical courses should be encouraged to consider transcription work while they are waiting for higher-paying employment opportunities here or abroad.
"Nursing graduates, for instance, can work part-time or full-time as transcriptionists while reviewing for the licensure examination, or while waiting for an overseas job placement," he said.
The local medical transcription industry is seen to generate $238 million in revenues this year; $476 million in 2008; $952 million in 2009; and $1.71 billion by 2010.
The industry now employs more than 17,000 medical transcriptionists. This workforce is expected to hit 34,000 by 2008; 68,000 by 2009; and 122,000 by 2010, according to the Medical Transcription Industry Association of the Philippines Inc.
Medical transcription is the process of transforming voice-recorded or hand-written medical reports, such as dictation of physicians and hospital records, to text matter that may be stored as printed or electronic data.
In developed countries, electronic medical records have become the preferred means of data storage, giving medical professionals ready access to information regardless of location.
Aguilar said the U.S. medical transcription services market alone is worth $25 billion annually, and more jobs there are being entrusted to the Philippines, which has ample supply of cost-effective, English-speaking human resources.
Citing the results of the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics' latest Occupational Wages Survey, TUCP spokesperson Alex Aguilar said medical transcriptionists are now earning substantially higher compensation income compared to medical technologists, nurses and even dentists.
According to survey, medical transcriptionists get an average of P10,757 in monthly wages.
This rate is P1,462 or 16 percent higher than the average of P9,295 received by medical technologists; P1,813 or 20 percent higher than the P8,944 received by nurses; and P3,722 or 53 percent higher than the P7,035 received by dentists.
Medical doctors received an average of P18,134 in monthly wages.
The survey covered only compensation income earners in medical, dental and other health jobs, as opposed to those earning professional fees.
Aguilar said employment growth in outsourced medical transcription services is expected to outpace considerably the 25-percent annual jobs expansion in the country’s booming contact centers.
He said medical transcription jobs are projected to increase at an average annual rate of 90 percent through 2010.
"The growth of medical transcription services is assured, as long as we have enough supply of capable human resources," he said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Aguilar said fresh graduates of nursing, pharmacy, medical technology, public health, physical therapy and other allied medical courses should be encouraged to consider transcription work while they are waiting for higher-paying employment opportunities here or abroad.
"Nursing graduates, for instance, can work part-time or full-time as transcriptionists while reviewing for the licensure examination, or while waiting for an overseas job placement," he said.
The local medical transcription industry is seen to generate $238 million in revenues this year; $476 million in 2008; $952 million in 2009; and $1.71 billion by 2010.
The industry now employs more than 17,000 medical transcriptionists. This workforce is expected to hit 34,000 by 2008; 68,000 by 2009; and 122,000 by 2010, according to the Medical Transcription Industry Association of the Philippines Inc.
Medical transcription is the process of transforming voice-recorded or hand-written medical reports, such as dictation of physicians and hospital records, to text matter that may be stored as printed or electronic data.
In developed countries, electronic medical records have become the preferred means of data storage, giving medical professionals ready access to information regardless of location.
Aguilar said the U.S. medical transcription services market alone is worth $25 billion annually, and more jobs there are being entrusted to the Philippines, which has ample supply of cost-effective, English-speaking human resources.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Labor Group Predicts $1 to P40 By Year End
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 25, 2007) - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Sunday stuck to its $1:P40 year-end exchange rate outlook, and repeated its advice for migrant Filipino workers and their families here to shun the US dollar and keep whatever savings they have in peso-denominated instruments.
TUCP spokesperson Alex Aguilar warned of yet another fresh peso upsurge against the dollar in two weeks, once the US Federal Reserve -- the American central bank -- slashes its key rate some more.
"We are sticking to our outlook. The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut its key rate by at least one-fourth of a percentage point on Dec. 11. There is even a good chance that the Fed might play Santa Claus, and surprise the financial markets with a bigger cut of one-half of a percentage point," Aguilar said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
"A big cut in the key rate will surely the drive the US dollar down to new lows against most other currencies, including the peso," Aguilar said.The peso closed Friday at 42.85 to a dollar.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will meet Dec. 11. The FOMC cut its benchmark rate a total of three-fourths a percentage point in its last two meetings on Sept. 18 and Oct. 31, bringing the rate down from 5.25 percent to 4.50 percent.
The rate cuts were meant to boost liquidity amid a worsening credit crunch that threatens to plunge the US economy into a recession.
Lower US interest rates would trigger an even bigger capital flight out of the US dollar.
Meanwhile, Aguilar said Filipino workers in Europe as well as their families here are largely unaffected by the strengthening peso and the falling US dollar."Like the peso, the euro has been advancing against the dollar. Thus, Filipino workers who are getting paid in euros are actually getting more value for their money in dollar terms," Aguilar pointed out.
"This is also true for Filipino workers in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries whose currencies are likewise advancing versus the dollar," Aguilar said.
"Offhand, we reckon that the net effect of a rising euro on migrant workers and their families here is at worst basically neutral, since the peso is also appreciating against the dollar. At the best, they may be gaining a bit," he added.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) statistics show that Filipino workers in Europe sent home via bank channels a total of $1.79 billion in the nine months to September this year, up more than 23 percent or $340 million compared to the $1.45 billion they remitted in the same period in 2006.
In the whole of 2006, Filipino workers in Europe sent home via bank channels a total of $2.07 billion. This accounted for more than 16 percent of the $12.8 billion in total remittances received by the country that year.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Put Up Funding For Workers, Labor Group Asks Manila
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 30) – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Sunday said Manila should set aside an initial P2-billion to provide a “safety net” for workers who may lose their jobs as a result of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
Alex Aguilar, TUCP spokesman, said the labor group expects the JPEPA, once ratified by the Senate, to eventually cause "significant job dislocation" as a consequence of reduced, if not zero tariffs that will allow cheaper imports into the country.
One of the sectors that would likely be hit hard by the JPEPA is the local automotive industry, which is ruled by Japanese companies, according to Aguilar.
"Our sense is, Japanese car makers with global manufacturing operations will ultimately find it cheaper to just bring in completely built up units from less expensive production facilities in Thailand and possibly even Vietnam," Aguilar said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
"We anticipate some of them will eventually scale down their car production activities here," he said.
Japanese firms Toyota Motor Phils. Corp., Honda Cars Phils. Inc., Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Corp. and Isuzu Phils. Corp. dominate the local motor vehicle industry that employs more than 74,000 workers and sells almost 100,000 units every year.
Aguilar said the P2 billion could cover emergency assistance as well as skills retooling programs to enable displaced workers to get new jobs.
He said that part of the fund could also be used to subsidize the language training of Filipino nurses, to allow them to readily qualify for employment in Japan.
Under the JPEPA, at least 400 Filipino nurses and 600 caregivers would be allowed into Japan in the first two years, subject to re-negotiation thereafter. They would have to undergo a six-month language training to be supervised by the Japanese government.
Aguilar, however, said the Philippines should not just totally rely on Japan for the language training.
Despite the prohibitive initial quota, Aguilar expressed confidence that Japan would eventually open up its lucrative health care labor market in a bigger way to Filipino nurses, physical therapists and caregivers.
"This is a function of demographics. As the Japanese population gets older, they will be forced to accommodate more foreign health care workers," he said.
"However, once this bigger opening is created three to five years from now, Filipino nurses will have to compete with practitioners from other Asian countries, mainly South Korea and Indonesia," Aguilar said.
"Thus, we have to stay on top of the game by encouraging our nurses who are keen on seeking employment in Japan to learn the (Japanese) language," he added.
Alex Aguilar, TUCP spokesman, said the labor group expects the JPEPA, once ratified by the Senate, to eventually cause "significant job dislocation" as a consequence of reduced, if not zero tariffs that will allow cheaper imports into the country.
One of the sectors that would likely be hit hard by the JPEPA is the local automotive industry, which is ruled by Japanese companies, according to Aguilar.
"Our sense is, Japanese car makers with global manufacturing operations will ultimately find it cheaper to just bring in completely built up units from less expensive production facilities in Thailand and possibly even Vietnam," Aguilar said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
"We anticipate some of them will eventually scale down their car production activities here," he said.
Japanese firms Toyota Motor Phils. Corp., Honda Cars Phils. Inc., Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Corp. and Isuzu Phils. Corp. dominate the local motor vehicle industry that employs more than 74,000 workers and sells almost 100,000 units every year.
Aguilar said the P2 billion could cover emergency assistance as well as skills retooling programs to enable displaced workers to get new jobs.
He said that part of the fund could also be used to subsidize the language training of Filipino nurses, to allow them to readily qualify for employment in Japan.
Under the JPEPA, at least 400 Filipino nurses and 600 caregivers would be allowed into Japan in the first two years, subject to re-negotiation thereafter. They would have to undergo a six-month language training to be supervised by the Japanese government.
Aguilar, however, said the Philippines should not just totally rely on Japan for the language training.
Despite the prohibitive initial quota, Aguilar expressed confidence that Japan would eventually open up its lucrative health care labor market in a bigger way to Filipino nurses, physical therapists and caregivers.
"This is a function of demographics. As the Japanese population gets older, they will be forced to accommodate more foreign health care workers," he said.
"However, once this bigger opening is created three to five years from now, Filipino nurses will have to compete with practitioners from other Asian countries, mainly South Korea and Indonesia," Aguilar said.
"Thus, we have to stay on top of the game by encouraging our nurses who are keen on seeking employment in Japan to learn the (Japanese) language," he added.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Higher Wages In Philppines Sought
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 07 Aug) - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Tuesday said it will appeal for a wage increase that is "substantially higher" than the P12 approved by the Metro Manila wage board.
"There is no question about this. We will definitely mount a vigorous appeal," TUCP spokesperson Alex Aguilar said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Aguilar said that under the law, any increase sanctioned by a regional board may, upon appeal, be augmented by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
The NWPC is composed of the Secretary of Labor and Employment, as ex-officio chair; the director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority, as ex-officio vice chair; two representatives each from the labor and employer sectors; and the commission's executive director.
"The P12-adjustment is ridiculously low and grossly inadequate," Aguilar said.
"We expected much more, considering we petitioned for no less than P75. The P12-increase will not extend workers any material relief," he added.
The regional board authorized a P12-increase in the statutory minimum wage for workers in the National Capital Region, effective after the publication of the new wage order.
The board also ordered the full integration of the existing P50 daily cost-of-living allowance (COLA) with the prevailing P300-minimum wage.This effectively raises the compulsory minimum wage to P362, to include the P12-increase.
The integration of the P50 daily COLA means that the amount, going forward, would be factored into the computation of other mandatory monetary benefits, such as overtime pay and the 13-month pay, receivable by workers.
"There is no question about this. We will definitely mount a vigorous appeal," TUCP spokesperson Alex Aguilar said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Aguilar said that under the law, any increase sanctioned by a regional board may, upon appeal, be augmented by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).
The NWPC is composed of the Secretary of Labor and Employment, as ex-officio chair; the director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority, as ex-officio vice chair; two representatives each from the labor and employer sectors; and the commission's executive director.
"The P12-adjustment is ridiculously low and grossly inadequate," Aguilar said.
"We expected much more, considering we petitioned for no less than P75. The P12-increase will not extend workers any material relief," he added.
The regional board authorized a P12-increase in the statutory minimum wage for workers in the National Capital Region, effective after the publication of the new wage order.
The board also ordered the full integration of the existing P50 daily cost-of-living allowance (COLA) with the prevailing P300-minimum wage.This effectively raises the compulsory minimum wage to P362, to include the P12-increase.
The integration of the P50 daily COLA means that the amount, going forward, would be factored into the computation of other mandatory monetary benefits, such as overtime pay and the 13-month pay, receivable by workers.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Solons Urged To Set Aside Fund For Reforestation Projects
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 30 Jul) – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has urged Monday members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to set aside their “pork barrel” allotments over the next three years -- a total of P64.8 billion -- to finance employment-intensive reforestation projects nationwide.
"This way, they not only help restore the country's forest cover, they also contribute directly to the creation of badly needed new jobs, and to alleviating widespread hunger," TUCP President Democrito Mendoza said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Metro Manila's dwindling water supply due to a lingering drought has underscored the urgency of reforestation projects, Mendoza said.
Mendoza said reforestation projects are highly labor-intensive, and could potentially generate tens of thousands of new jobs in the countryside.
"A seedling normally requires at least three years of proper care before they can grow on their own. Thus, the planting and growing of trees in thousands of hectares of denuded land will definitely require the mobilization of considerable human resources," he said.
Pork barrel is a derogatory term for spending meant to benefit a politician's constituents in return for their support.
Pork barrel spending usually goes to public works projects and subsidies with benefits that are concentrated in a particular district, but with cost that are spread among all taxpayers.
Pork barrel is often allocated through last-minute budget bill insertions.Beginning last year, the House of Representatives increased the annual pork barrel allocation of every member from P40 million to P70 million. This raised the combined annual pork barrel of the 240 House members to a total of P16.8 billion.
The 24 members of the Senate, meanwhile, get up to P200 million each in annual pork barrel allotments, or a total of P4.8 billion. (Alex Aguilar)
"This way, they not only help restore the country's forest cover, they also contribute directly to the creation of badly needed new jobs, and to alleviating widespread hunger," TUCP President Democrito Mendoza said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
Metro Manila's dwindling water supply due to a lingering drought has underscored the urgency of reforestation projects, Mendoza said.
Mendoza said reforestation projects are highly labor-intensive, and could potentially generate tens of thousands of new jobs in the countryside.
"A seedling normally requires at least three years of proper care before they can grow on their own. Thus, the planting and growing of trees in thousands of hectares of denuded land will definitely require the mobilization of considerable human resources," he said.
Pork barrel is a derogatory term for spending meant to benefit a politician's constituents in return for their support.
Pork barrel spending usually goes to public works projects and subsidies with benefits that are concentrated in a particular district, but with cost that are spread among all taxpayers.
Pork barrel is often allocated through last-minute budget bill insertions.Beginning last year, the House of Representatives increased the annual pork barrel allocation of every member from P40 million to P70 million. This raised the combined annual pork barrel of the 240 House members to a total of P16.8 billion.
The 24 members of the Senate, meanwhile, get up to P200 million each in annual pork barrel allotments, or a total of P4.8 billion. (Alex Aguilar)
Sunday, July 29, 2007
TUCP Urges OFW To Save Pesos, Not Dollars
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 29 Jul) – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines has urged overseas Filipino workers and their families to keep their savings in pesos, saying the local currency is bound to gain more strength against the American dollar in the months ahead.
"We are just looking out for OFWs and their families here. There is definitely less risk and greater potential reward in peso investments going forward," TUCP president Democrito Mendoza said in a statement sent Sunday to the Mindanao Examiner.
He said: "OFWs and their families here stand to lose more value for their money if they continue to stash whatever savings they have in dollars, or in dollar-denominated instruments."
Mendoza made the statement shortly after JP Morgan Chase & Co. told its clients to buy the Philippine peso, and the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) predicted an even stronger-than-expected peso over the next 18 months.
The DBS said it now sees the peso closing at 44.50 versus the dollar by year's end, and 42.50 by the end of 2008.
Previously, the DBS saw the peso closing at 45.50 versus the dollar by year's end, and at 43 by the end of next year.
"There is no sense in keeping dollars now. This is not just about the peso getting basically stronger. This is more about the dollar itself getting fundamentally weaker versus most other currencies," Mendoza said.
"The government's improved financial position, massive OFW remittances as well as increased tourist spending and foreign investments here are all factors propping up the peso.”
“But worldwide, there is far greater supply of dollars now and much less demand. This is why the dollar is getting weaker," he said.
Mendoza, meanwhile, stressed the need for the government to push down remittance charges in order to help OFWs cope with the rising peso.
"This is one concrete way by which the government is in a position to intervene, in terms of creating a regulatory environment that will drive down excessive money transfer charges," he pointed out.
A previous study by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that a typical $400 to $600- remittance from a US or a United Kingdom bank to a Philippine bank costs from $7.09 to $11.73. A $200-remittance from Hong Kong costs $3.11 to $7.45 per transaction.
Mendoza also said the TUCP would support the government's plan to float OFW bonds. "If the bonds will mean that OFWs will have ready access to higher-yielding investment instruments, then we are all for it," he said.
Since dropping to a low of 56.04 to a dollar in 2004, the peso has surged by more than 18 percent, closing at 45.72 versus the US currency on Friday.
"We are just looking out for OFWs and their families here. There is definitely less risk and greater potential reward in peso investments going forward," TUCP president Democrito Mendoza said in a statement sent Sunday to the Mindanao Examiner.
He said: "OFWs and their families here stand to lose more value for their money if they continue to stash whatever savings they have in dollars, or in dollar-denominated instruments."
Mendoza made the statement shortly after JP Morgan Chase & Co. told its clients to buy the Philippine peso, and the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) predicted an even stronger-than-expected peso over the next 18 months.
The DBS said it now sees the peso closing at 44.50 versus the dollar by year's end, and 42.50 by the end of 2008.
Previously, the DBS saw the peso closing at 45.50 versus the dollar by year's end, and at 43 by the end of next year.
"There is no sense in keeping dollars now. This is not just about the peso getting basically stronger. This is more about the dollar itself getting fundamentally weaker versus most other currencies," Mendoza said.
"The government's improved financial position, massive OFW remittances as well as increased tourist spending and foreign investments here are all factors propping up the peso.”
“But worldwide, there is far greater supply of dollars now and much less demand. This is why the dollar is getting weaker," he said.
Mendoza, meanwhile, stressed the need for the government to push down remittance charges in order to help OFWs cope with the rising peso.
"This is one concrete way by which the government is in a position to intervene, in terms of creating a regulatory environment that will drive down excessive money transfer charges," he pointed out.
A previous study by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that a typical $400 to $600- remittance from a US or a United Kingdom bank to a Philippine bank costs from $7.09 to $11.73. A $200-remittance from Hong Kong costs $3.11 to $7.45 per transaction.
Mendoza also said the TUCP would support the government's plan to float OFW bonds. "If the bonds will mean that OFWs will have ready access to higher-yielding investment instruments, then we are all for it," he said.
Since dropping to a low of 56.04 to a dollar in 2004, the peso has surged by more than 18 percent, closing at 45.72 versus the US currency on Friday.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Depressed Wages Result To Over-employment In Philippines
MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 14 Jul) – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Saturday said depressed wages have resulted in the over-employment of some 7.6 million workers in the country.
The figure is nearly one-fourth of all employed Filipinos, it said. "Wages here are grossly inadequate. This is why a growing number of labor force participants are being driven to seek extra work and additional income," TUCP spokesperson Alex Aguilar said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
He said workers are being forced to toil longer hours simply because their take home pay is not enough to cover the daily cost of decent living.
Aguilar was reacting to a government report indicating that nearly five of every 20 employed Filipinos were found to be over-employed last year.
The Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment, prepared the report, he said.
“Collated from the National Statistics Office's quarterly labor force surveys, the BLES report showed that of the 33 million Filipinos on the job, about 23 percent or 7.6 million were over-employed,” he said.
Aguilar described the reported massive over-employment as “a labor market distortion,” caused primarily by low and insufficient wages.
“This is a distortion because if a person is earning enough for an eight-hour job, then he or she would not have to look for additional work that ought to be performed by someone else who is totally jobless or underemployed,” Aguilar said.
The TUCP has a pending petition for a P75-increase in the statutory regional minimum wage for workers in Metro Manila. The regional tripartite wages and productivity board began deliberating on the petition last week.
"We are definitely counting on the wage board to provide instant relief to our workers," Aguilar said.
Employers said an increase in wages would only aggravate unemployment.“That is old hat. Those opposed to giving workers higher wages always try play up and exaggerate the ghost of job losses,” Agular said.
“On the contrary, higher wages will drive up personal consumption expenditure, create new demand for good and services, and thus prop up domestic industries and employment,” he said.
The BLES report indicated that more than half of all over-employed Filipinos, or about 4.1 million, were men.
The report also showed that the bulk of the over-employed -- 58.5 percent or 4.4 million -- worked for extra income. About 40 percent or three million gave "job requirement" as another reason for working excessively.
The figure is nearly one-fourth of all employed Filipinos, it said. "Wages here are grossly inadequate. This is why a growing number of labor force participants are being driven to seek extra work and additional income," TUCP spokesperson Alex Aguilar said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
He said workers are being forced to toil longer hours simply because their take home pay is not enough to cover the daily cost of decent living.
Aguilar was reacting to a government report indicating that nearly five of every 20 employed Filipinos were found to be over-employed last year.
The Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment, prepared the report, he said.
“Collated from the National Statistics Office's quarterly labor force surveys, the BLES report showed that of the 33 million Filipinos on the job, about 23 percent or 7.6 million were over-employed,” he said.
Aguilar described the reported massive over-employment as “a labor market distortion,” caused primarily by low and insufficient wages.
“This is a distortion because if a person is earning enough for an eight-hour job, then he or she would not have to look for additional work that ought to be performed by someone else who is totally jobless or underemployed,” Aguilar said.
The TUCP has a pending petition for a P75-increase in the statutory regional minimum wage for workers in Metro Manila. The regional tripartite wages and productivity board began deliberating on the petition last week.
"We are definitely counting on the wage board to provide instant relief to our workers," Aguilar said.
Employers said an increase in wages would only aggravate unemployment.“That is old hat. Those opposed to giving workers higher wages always try play up and exaggerate the ghost of job losses,” Agular said.
“On the contrary, higher wages will drive up personal consumption expenditure, create new demand for good and services, and thus prop up domestic industries and employment,” he said.
The BLES report indicated that more than half of all over-employed Filipinos, or about 4.1 million, were men.
The report also showed that the bulk of the over-employed -- 58.5 percent or 4.4 million -- worked for extra income. About 40 percent or three million gave "job requirement" as another reason for working excessively.
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