new law needed

It really saddens me to tell this true story. My wife’s niece just 18 her name is Nan and oldest of eleven children of this dirt farmer who farms in Mabinay. This is a “one cow” family and having a cow is a matter of life or death to the family because their yearly income in less than 20,000 p. Nan applied for a job at one of the major food chains in Dumaguete and started work at no salary. You see, the food chain has a 6 month training program and the new worker sign a contract to work with no salary and then they are guaranteed access to their labor pool. They are not told that there are over 60 waiting for employment.. Nan’s father sold the family cow so Nan could purchase the required uniform and give his daughter a few pesos to get started. Nan completed the 6 month training program and has waited 2 years and to this date has never heard from the major food chain. Just this week another niece entered a 6 month training program with Western Union at no salary. Another niece entered a long term training program as a domestic helper in Singapore and is now working at no salary. We contacted the Philippine Foreign Service and told this true story and were told we had to appear in person in Manila and they would ask the perpetrators to face us in a meeting. So we ask what could we do if they do not show up and were told, “we will keep inviting them.” We even wrote two legislators and to this date, no one is interested.

 

"So we ask what could we do if they do not show up and were told, “we will keep inviting them.” We even wrote two legislators and to this date, no one is interested."

You asked them to "show up" are you kidding me? Do they really care? Does not sound like it to me.

 

How is it that these people can even afford to work for six months without making money? Who has six months of living expenses saved up? I bet in the U.S. this would be like .02% of the population.

And why would you be willing to go through this for such a crap job? Apparently there is no shortage. It's like a lottery job!

This is just another case of the value of labor at these places dropping so much that it's approaching zero. People are willing to work for zero just for the chance of a decent paying job. If not for minimum wage, then the company would likely be more willing to pay these people something. Maybe it's the minimum wage law which needs to be changed. Get rid of it and allow the market to set the wages. Otherwise these places will continue looking for loopholes like this which screws people over.

Otherwise, people need to quit relying on the government and these big corps as a crutch. People need to get out and learn how to hustle.

 

That is very sad that young people can be exploited in this way , no wonder they see no way out of povitey. My blood boils when i read story like this.The philippino way is to cop it and dont speak up sadly things wont change untill the do

 

Write to the papers, Visit the DOLE Office, Name and Shame to me is the Only way,
Visit the Mayor, always at CB around 12 noon, bug those that can do something.
He brags about an Open door Policy, lets see how true that can be.

JP

 

What are the names of these businesses?

 

I wrote about this....they put her on a list.... I even know the fast food outlet..... but this is not something new.....it is done at a lot of places in town.....a form of slavery....BUT NOBODY CARES.... they pass minimum wage laws....then ignore them.....you complain and you are out of work.... the ground crew of PAL went on strike....PAL fired them all and hired new people..... laws mean nothing unless someone enforces them..... half the problems in the Philippines could be corrected over night....just by enforcing the laws on the books.....
I see several threads on here about improving things or solving problems..... the ONLY people who "can" solve problems or improve things....are Filipinos.....and until they decide they want it changed.....WE .... foreigners.....can not do anything....... I have and still am trying to create a JOINT organization of foreigners and Filipinos with an eye to improve and change things for BOTH of us.....improve the quality of life for ALL of us.... everybody smiles and pats me on the back BUT NOBODY STEPS UP AND JOINS.....and without Filipinos it is just a gripe session with no chance of getting anything done

 

I repeat what are the names of the businesses? If you are going to accuse someone of something, you should at least hear the other side.