Reduced work hours to generate more jobs —Ka Leody

Labor leader and presidential aspirant Leody de Guzman on Friday proposed to reduce the number of working hours from eight to six hours to generate more jobs for Filipinos amid the economic slowdown induced by the pandemic.

De Guzman, however, stressed, this should not result in cuts in salaries and benefits of employees.

“Kaya ako ay may isang strategic o isang panawagan na dapat ay iksian yung oras ng trabaho ng mga manggawa na halimbawa mula sa eight hours gawing six hours na walang bawas sweldo at benepisyo,” he said during the online Pandesal Forum.

(I proposed to reduce the working hours of workers, for example from eight hours to six hours, without cuts in their salaries and benefits.)

The two hours that would be made available would allow the hiring of 11 million more workers, he said.

“Yung two hours na malilibre ay pwedeng lumikha ng 11 million na mga manggagawa doon sa kasalukuyang may trabaho ngayon. Kung mababawasan sila ng tig-dalawang oras at maibibigay natin sa mga walang trabaho makakapag-create tayo ng halos 11 million na trabaho kung magagawa 'yun,” he added.

(The two hours that will be freed can be given to those without jobs, and can create 11 million employment.)

De Guzman acknowledged his proposal could not be implemented immediately as the economy is not yet stable.

“Hindi naman immediate ‘yan, wala yan sa proposal namin ni Walden. Ang sinasabi ko nasa ganyang direksyon 'pag nasa maayos na ang ating ekonomiya ay doon natin iimpose yung paikliin 'yung oras ng paggawa ng ating mga manggagawa,” he explained.

(The pitch cannot be implemented right away, it's not in my immediate proposal along with Walden Bello. But that should be the direction we are headed when economy gets better, reducing working hours.)

The labor leader also vowed to provide support and additional funds for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to hire more employees and allocate jobs for the unemployed individuals due COVID-19 threat.

Reopening of face-to-face classes

De Guzman said he is not in favor of the reopening of the face-to-face classes for students following the rise of COVID-19 infections in the country.

However, he noted that the government must strengthen its contact tracing, mass testing and vaccination programs to curb the spread of the respiratory viral disease.

Meanwhile, the labor leader vowed that he would double the allocated budget for the agricultural sector to create more opportunities for the country's farmers and fishermen if he gets elected in Eleksyon 2022.

De Guzman said this would ensure a more sustainable food production and prevent the country from importing fishes and vegetables from other countries.

To prevent oversupply, he also proposed to develop post-harvest facilities in order to maintain the quality of the country’s harvest and be able to export  them to other nations.

Comelec appointees

With three Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioners retiring soon, De Guzman said it is time an independent body appoint new officials of the poll body and not leave it to the discretion of the president.

Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Antonio Kho Jr. are set to retire on February 2.

After February 2, the en banc will be left with Commissioners Marlon Casquejo, Soccoro Inting, Aimee Ferolino, and Rey Bulay — all appointees of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Drug War

As to the administration's war on drugs, De Guzman said it should be treated as a health problem, adding that drug users must be given support and rehabilitation.

“Then yung mga drug lords ay dapat hulihin yun at hindi patakasin pero yung mga nagiging biktima ay dapat irehabilitate,” the labor leader said.

(The drug lords must be caught and jailed, while those who become victims must be rehabilitated.)

“Hindi naman nakakapigil ang paraang pagpatay sa pagdami ng droga ngayon, andaming nasayang na buhay pero yung droga ay parang parami pa rin nang parami sa ngayon. Ito ay isang patunay na hindi tamang solusyon ang pagpatay o pananakot,” he added.

(Killing is not the solution against illegal drugs. Many lives have been killed but drug users still seem to increase =. This is proof that killing or intimidation is not the right solution.)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) temporarily halted its probe on the Duterte administration’s bloody campaign against illegal drugs after the Philippines requested the international court to defer the investigation.—LDF, GMA News