The protesters are against a recently issued Department Order (DO) 174, which states, based on the labour code, as amended, the Secretary of Labor has no power to prohibit all forms of contractualization and fixed term employment. This matter is a function of legislation. The workers claim that the DO does not end, but further legitimizes contractualization, which deliberately rejected Filipino workers’ demand to end all form of contractualization. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE
(Eagle News) — The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing adult joblessness at 22.9% in March 2017, which is 2.2% below the 25.1% last December 2016, is an affirmation of the significant strides of the Duterte administration in sustaining the country’s robust economic growth and making it inclusive.
The government increased investments in infrastructure will usher in the Golden Age of Infrastructure through our Build-Build-Build campaign which is expected to employ millions of Filipinos in the next five years and spur economic activities by stimulating countryside development. The new roads, bridges and railways would make the flow of commodities and services cost and time efficient thereby expanding the domestic economy
The number of jobless Filipinos in the first three months are lower by 2.2 percent from the fourth quarter of last year, according to the latest survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS).
Joblessness in the first quarter of 2017 was at 22.9 percent which is equivalent to 10.4 million jobless Filipinos, the SWS said, which is lower compared to the 25.1 percent or 11.2 million jobless Filipino adults in the last quarter of 2016.
The following are the percentages among this first quarter’s jobless adults: 11.2 percent or 5.1 million adults voluntarily left their jobs, 8.6 percent or 3.9 million lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control, and 3.1 percent or 1.4 million were first-time job seekers.
SWS defines joblessness as those without a job at present and are looking for a job.
In last year’s fourth quarter, the percentages of those who are considered jobless are the the following: 12.2 percent or 5.5 million adults voluntarily left their jobs, 8.7 percent or 3.9 million lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control, and 4.3 percent or 1.9 million adults were first time job seekers.
The SWS survey last March also put the adult labor force participation rate at 72.2% or 45.5 million adults. The figures hardly changed from December’s 72.1% or an estimated 44.8 million adults.
But there is less optimism that there would be more jobs in the next 12 months, the SWS poll noted.
From last December’s 48 percent, it fell four percentage points to 44 percent this March.
This, however, still yielded a +29 net optimism on job availability, which is considered “high.” It is down from the record “very high” of +37 in December. (Eagle News Service)
