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Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Gov't asked to reconsider plan to retrench workers
THE government employees union Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) Monday urged the national government to rethink its plan to retrench 10,000 government workers or face the wrath of about 1.4 laborers from the public sector.
Courage National President Ferdinand Gaite said saving up on spending should not start with firing 10,000 government employees through merger or abolition of agencies and retirement, forced or not, and instead cut down on unneeded expenditures.
Gaite said that if the government starts its plan to retrench these workers, they would definitely bring their cause to the streets and paralyze the government functions and services.
"As if keeping our salaries at starvation level, our rightful benefits taken away from us and even our democratic rights are being suppressed are not enough, our only source of livelihood is being taken away," Gaite said.
He said retirement benefits are now being dangled to anyone in the public sector who wants to avail of an early retirement program.
"The government said it does not have money so where would they get the funding, when many of those who already retired have yet to get their hands on their benefits," he said.
It was Department Budget Management (DBM) Secretary Emilia Boncodin apparently made the proposal of reorganizing the government work force in order to save up on state funds for good reasons.
She said the government is severely cash strapped because of poor revenue collection, among others.
Boncodin admitted that as of July, P124.1 billion of the 2002 budget is in fear of not getting released.
This figure includes 25 percent of the budget of all government agencies and 50 percent of the legislators' pork barrel.
Among the government agencies being eyed for reorganization are the Departments of Agrarian Reform and Agriculture, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the DBM, National Housing Authority and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. (Joshua Dancel) |
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