Filipinos are PH's biggest asset - ILO chief

[Ronzkie23]

---

Filipinos are PH's biggest asset - ILO chief

By Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 12/17/2012 3:08 PM | Updated as of 12/17/2012 3:08 PM

ILO Director General Guy Ryder (L). Photo courtesy of ILO

MANILA, Philippines – The head of the International Labor Organization believes the Philippines' best asset is none other than the Filipino people.
“I think the biggest potential of the Philippines is its people, not only here in the Philippines but (around the world). Wherever I've lived I've always met Filipinos working, contributing to society's progress, and I think that dynamism is your best asset,” ILO Director General Guy Ryder said in an interview.
Ryder's visit to the Philippines is his first since he was elected as ILO Director General last October 2012. The last visit of ILO's highest official to the country was 17 years ago, in 1995.
Ryder extended his sympathies and help to the victims of typhoon Pablo in the southern Philippines. The ILO estimates about 2.3 million workers, mostly in the Davao region, have been directly affected by the typhoon.
Most of the victims are women aged 15 to 24, and vulnerable family workers like farmers, fisherfolk or street vendors.

Ryder said the ILO has set aside initial funding of US$50,000 or 2 million pesos to jumpstart a livelihood program in partnership with the government.

“We try to help people get back to work with cash-for-work schemes. We try to help in the reconstruction process for infrastructure and also local economic development, to get communities together, to give them a new livelihood prospect. I think we have a big responsibility and a really helpful role to play,” he said.

Protection of domestic workers

Ryder's visit was also timely as the president was about to sign into law the Domestic Workers or Kasambahay bill that was finally ratified by Congress after 15 years.

Ryder hopes the bill will finally recognize this workforce he described as "invisible".

“People somehow think that because (domestic workers) work in private homes, they're not part of public policy. The first step is to make people aware that (domestic workers) are workers like every other worker in the world. They make great contributions, (and) if they stop working the world comes to a stop,” he said.

Danger of jobless growth

On the country's economic growth, Ryder said the 7.5 percent increase in this year's third quarter was respectable. But he also agreed with the notion that it's a jobless growth not felt by ordinary workers.

“I think what really matters is not simply the numbers of jobs created but the quality of jobs created. We see a lot of what we call vulnerable jobs in the Philippines, jobs which don't really provide a sure and stable livelihood for people in the long term. You see a lot of poor people, they're working but they remain poor. The whole purpose of (the ILO’s) decent work agenda is to get people into decent quality employment that renders a good standard of living and good social protection,” he said.

This reality is even more apparent as Christmas approaches. Children flock the streets begging and working to help earn a living. A 2011 survey by the National Statistics Office shows that there are 5.5 million working children aged 5 to 7 years old.

“Providing decent work alternatives for people whose kids go to work is extraordinarily important. We have to do provide social protection for families, so that work doesn't appear as a social obligation and that there are alternatives for young people,” he said.

Decline in trade unions

Another area of concern for the ILO is the decline in trade union membership in the country. He said trade unions are necessary to fight for the rights of workers.
Ryder said the decline in trade union membership is not unique to the Philippines.

“We are seeing in many countries around the world a decline in trade union membership, and it’s got many factors to it. I think the ILO’s job is to provide an enabling environment, an encouraging environment (for workers to organize) and also to make the case to governments and businesses that an organized workforce is actually an advantage,” he said.

Source: Filipinos are PH's biggest asset - ILO chief | ABS-CBN News

[Tirong-say]

Agree,
the manifestation is the OFW/OCW contribution
towards the Philippine's economy.

[kageron]

no wonder why we have a lot of OFW that are getting high demands.

And also when it comes to the work opportunities here in our country it's a sad thing that not all are promising. Not all work will guarantee you a long run since some of them will just solve your temporary needs.

[KlaytoN]

the reluctant asset. dili man unta ang destiny nato ang mahimong "nation of servants". This is just the sad result and consequence of a country that cannot provide for its citizens.

I know daghan PRO RH ang gamiton ni as their argument. Gusto nila daghan mag OFW.. LOL!

[anggwaponi]

--- updating ---







DOLE pushes for add’l protection for workers
NOTE: News link courtesy of MSN.com

[salbahis]

owwwwwkkkkeeeeeyyyyyy... so Stupid/Inferiority Complex/Hypocrisy/***** are considered asset now? wow...

[RagnarLothbrok]

gi ulo ulohan ramu anang taga ILO oi... kita mga Pinoy mu bukad dayon ang atay ingnon lng gamay na Maayu mu trabaho, kugihan, gwapo gwapa... TOO SAD DAYON mu

Kanus-a gud tawn nahimong asset ang pag OFW unsa man daw pinaka dagahn na OFW mga DH, S%X WORKER, Basurero, Panday asa may asset ana

Being Inferior/Slave/Hypocrite/PROSTI is an ASSET c'mon guys!!!!

[flanker]

Bwahahaha. #ProudToBePinoy

[SioDenz]

gi ulo ulohan ramu anang taga ILO oi... kita mga Pinoy mu bukad dayon ang atay ingnon lng gamay na Maayu mu trabaho, kugihan, gwapo gwapa... TOO SAD DAYON mu

Kanus-a gud tawn nahimong asset ang pag OFW unsa man daw pinaka dagahn na OFW mga DH, S%X WORKER, Basurero, Panday asa may asset ana

Being Inferior/Slave/Hypocrite/PROSTI is an ASSET c'mon guys!!!!

OFW's are sending/pumping Millions of dollars INTO the countries economy, While the country haven't spend(or spend just a little) any resources or assets or money in exchange for that millions it received. mao nay naka asset sa OFW if you know a little about how an Economy works. Thats why our country will not be greatly affected if naay recession tungod sa stable inclome nga musulod.

I think You Dont know S*HIT about what you are Reading, or Did you read it?

[RagnarLothbrok]

OFW's are sending/pumping Millions of dollars INTO the countries economy, While the country haven't spend(or spend just a little) any resources or assets or money in exchange for that millions it received. mao nay naka asset sa OFW if you know a little about how an Economy works. Thats why our country will not be greatly affected if naay recession tungod sa stable inclome nga musulod.

I think You Dont know S*HIT about what you are Reading, or Did you read it?

Nitingog nasad ang ekspert... ehuh! na butthurt ka kay ofw ka? bisag unsaon nimug bali bali ang OFW dili jud na mahimong asset sa Pilipinas. they are just plane workers. yes naka contribute sila sa economiyas atong nasod but I dont think sila ang Asset

There are 3 kinds of OFW sa kalibutan, do you think they are our assets?
1. Slaves - DH, Entertainers,Construction laborers,Basurero,Prostitutes exported all over the world.
2. Performers - SIngers, comedians, Magicians mukaog kalayo, those are our National skills and a drama filled lives
3. Fighters - boxers, martial arts, a legalized way of getting beaten up by his opponent and get paid.

ibutang natog naay mga Pilipino Doctors sa to Universities sa US, Pilipino ASTROPHYSICIST sa NASA or mga Engineers sa US.... sa tan aw nimu asset na sila sa PILIPINAS asset na sila sa US dili sa PH.

Mao na ang asset na imung nkita? kamubo nimug pangutok oy!

how about people engage in Innovation in their own country like scientists, engineers, architects like the Koreans and Japanese na they have there own built CARS, Robots, Computers, Nuclear/Military weapons Designed, engineered & Manufactured in their own country.. asset nila ang mga locals nga naa ras ilang nasod. nag contribute sila para lng sa ilang nasod. that's the REAL ASSH*T mi AMIGO!!!

Basin ikaw maoy nagbasa brad pero wala kasabot...