THE first day of May commemorates International Workers’ or Labor Day around the world.
Contrary to popular belief, May 1 is not entirely dedicated to today’s workers and their demands. This day is meant to remember those heroes who struggled, fought and even died, for the rights of workers that we enjoy today.
As the US Department of Labor notes: “Labor Day is a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”
However, the United States celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday of September every year, despite being the origin of this holiday in the 1800s.
In America, May 1 is Law Day. This day was so declared in order to call the attention of the nation, to focus on the importance of the rule of law.
This centuries-old holiday reminds citizens to examine the precedents that led to the establishment of the rule of law in America, through the United States Constitution, and consequently, to improve our understanding and appreciation of the important contribution these sources made to the creation of our free society.
In the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino appealed to the Filipino workforce and employers to set aside negativism and blame-throwing.
“Hindi po ba mas maganda kung imbes na tratuhin ang Labor Day bilang araw ng piket at sigawan, ituring natin ito bilang selebrasyon — isang araw na masayang nagdiriwang ang mga manggagawa at mga negosyante dahil sa matagumpay at produktibong taon; isang araw na kinikilala natin ang sipag ng bawat empleyado, at kung gaano kalaking biyaya ang magkaroon ng isang trabahong marangal at bumubuhay sa pamilya mo?” Aquino said in his meeting with businessmen and labor groups’ representatives at Malacañang.
Aquino urged Filipinos to recognize the industry and dedication of workers. He also said that Labor Day should also be called “Good Job Day.”
The President also promised to come up with solutions to lingering labor problems by continuing to focus and address four major concerns: “Ang mapanatili ang mga trabahong nariyan na; ang lumikha ng mas marami pang trabaho; ang dagdagan ang kakayahan ng ating mga manggagawa; at ang maigting na pagpapatupad sa ating mga batas,” to protect the rights of the common worker.
Labor groups, however, would not easily succumb to Aquino’s promises.
“We were expecting something to hold onto, something to begin working on. But there was none. Trade unions and labor groups are at a loss,” said Alan Tanjusay, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s largest labor group.
In a report from Philstar.com, Tanjusay said that “Aquino could have seized the moment to uphold the dignity of the Filipino workers by issuing directives that could create greater opportunities for them.”
“It was an opportunity to ignite trade unionists’ hope and workers’ aspirations for decent work, decent pay, and decent lives,” he added.
In its recent survey, the Labor Force Survey of the National Statistics Office puts the country’s unemployment rate at 7.1 percent or 2.984 unemployed Filipinos.
This means that if Filipinos are to celebrate the country’s recent economic achievements, such gains should reach the almost 3 million jobless Pinoys.
Handing them the job directly is not the solution, showing them a path to get a foothold is.
Whether we celebrate Labor Day or Law Day, let us not forget the reasons behind the commemorations.
Most of all, let us give due value to our workforce, because our nation’s future and success depend on them.
(AJPress)