HUNDREDS of sugar workers in the province, who are members of various progressive and militant groups, camped out in front of Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)–Negros Occidental Provincial Field Office in Bacolod City last night.
This is part of their two-day protest to call on the government for institutionalized mechanisms to counter the “difficulties” being experienced by workers, especially those in haciendas, during “tiempo muerto” or dead season.
John Lozande, national secretary-general of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), said sugar workers in the province are suffering from extreme hunger and poverty within three months of having no work in the farm.
Lozande said the effects of “tiempo muerto” are intensely felt by sugar workers in many parts of the country, especially Negros Island. Though it starts the last part of June, its peak is from August to September.
“Dead season is an annual phenomenon. The government has already recognized it yet they have not established concrete solutions to confront such problem,” he said, adding that “institutionalized mechanisms would also save us workers from the difficulties of holding protests and other actions every time ‘tiempo muerto’ happens.”
As they camped out at the agency’s provincial office, protesters held a solidarity night that includes cultural presentation and talks on the updates of the country’s sugar industry.
Prior to this, they trooped to Social Security System (SSS)–Bacolod branch on Lacson Street to call for the agency’s immediate actions on the complaints against employers not paying for their workers’ contribution.
Lozande said these cases against some “hacienderos” were already filed five to 18 years ago yet “no concrete solutions are made.”
“We will be writing the SSS head office in Manila to ask for a dialogue in order to come up with immediate ways on cracking down employers depriving the workers’ right to avail various social benefits,” Lozande said.
They also had a dialogue with Dole–Region 6 Assistant Regional Director Salome Siaton yesterday, particularly on availing the Emergency Employment Program of the agency.
“In 2016, we were able to avail such program from the Dole. We are still complying with the requirements set by the agency to avail of its assistance for 2017 and 2018,” he added.
The two-day protest is mainly to culminate the “tiempo muerto” campaign of progressive groups in the province.
Aside from NFSW, other participating groups included Kilusang Mayo Uno–Negros, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, among others.
For today, they will hold a picket at the Department and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Provincial Capitol to also call for institutionalized interventions for sugar workers during dead season.
“Unlike of some LGUs, the Provincial Government has not extended any support services for workers during these difficult times,” Lozande claimed, adding that through this protest they are also opposing for the “liberalization” of sugar importation.
This is not the solution to bring down the cost of sugar especially in the retail sector as traders and hoarders are the ones dictating the price, he pointed out.