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Labor group: Jobs, amelioration not lockdowns Posted: 30 Mar 2021 05:25 AM PDT "PROVIDE the people with jobs and amelioration, not lockdowns." This was the call of the local labor group, General Alliance of Workers Associations (Gawa), in reaction to the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila and other areas in the National Capital Region (NCR). Its secretary general, Wennie Sancho, said in a statement that it was generally admitted that "we are in a far worse situation today than we were in August last year." Sancho said the country is back to square one due to virus mutation, according to the government. But most people are asking: if the response of the government to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) was excellent, how come that NCR was back to ECQ again? "Lockdown is not the ultimate solution against the spread of the virus, but the strict implementation of standard health protocols, massive contact tracing and to fast-track the vaccination program of the government," he said, adding that people must be employed to survive economically. The Negros Occidental-based labor group said unemployment brings untold sufferings and psychological trauma to the jobless workers and their families. Gawa cited the spike of unemployment in Western Visayas from 5.6 percent in January 2020 to 9.1 percent in January 2021. It will lead to an all-time-high jobless rate if there is a lockdown, it said. Sancho, also the labor representative to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Western Visayas, said it is unfortunate that in the midst of pandemic, majority of the workers particularly in the informal sectors are underpaid, underfed and underemployed. Sancho said it is exacerbated by the killings of activist-labor leaders who are being "red-tagged." The chilling effect of these happenings is the sudden decline in labor union organizing, he added. Gawa appealed to the employers to suspend the no-work-no-pay scheme during the Holy Week to augment the meager income of the workers. It called for the granting of emergency relief allowances to the workers for those employers who can afford, or provision of a sack of rice every month to the families of the workers as a gesture of compassion in these trying and difficult times. All workers in general are affected nationwide whether they are under ECQ or not, its official pointed out. Gawa also supported the call of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to allow the private sector to import Covid-19 vaccine without restriction so that the workers in the private sector can avail of the vaccine. "The workers and the business sector are the engine of growth of our economy they should be protected so that our economy could recover," Sancho said, adding that "taking care of our health is not a monopoly of the government alone." This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Negros Occidental ASF task force thwarts online selling Posted: 30 Mar 2021 05:23 AM PDT FOLLOWING reports from several concerned citizens about online selling of canned pork products from China in Negros Occidental, the Provincial African Swine Fever (ASF) Task Force has conducted an inspection among two online sellers based in Silay City recently. Based on reports received by the task force, the sellers were offering pre-order sale of a known brand of luncheon meat from China that is currently banned in the country due to ASF concerns. During the inspection, the products were not yet in their possession. According to the sellers, these are scheduled to arrive the following week. It is supposed to be their first order of the products. "However, one of them presented a photo of the receipt from a courier service company which was sent to her by the supplier as proof that her order was on the way after she had paid in full," the task force said. Upon verification of the said receipt, the inspecting team was able to identify and locate the supplier in Antique. The task force immediately coordinated with the Regulatory Division of the Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas for appropriate action against the establishment. Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, co-chair of the task force, reminded Negrenses that carrying, transport, shipment, distribution, storing, trading, marketing and sale of pork products from ASF-affected countries and those manufactured or processed in Luzon, Mindanao and Eastern Visayas are prohibited. The prohibition is provided under Provincial Ordinance 2019-024 or the ASF Prevention Ordinance of Negros Occidental. "Let us do our part in keeping our province free from ASF to help ensure that we can continue to provide sufficient supply of pork not only for Negros Occidental but also to other provinces that were affected by the dreaded disease affecting swine," the task force added. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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