A LABOR strike led by former employees of Korean-owned Shinsun Tropical Fruits Corporation and progressive group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) has led the company to lose more than $200,000 due to the month-long labor strike.
Meanwhile, the New People's Army (NPA) has recently attacked several facilities of the Lapanday Foods Corporation last month resulting to the death of a civilian, Larry Buenafe, and leaving hundreds of workers jobless.
The two activities are nothing new to us but they are something of great concern as the current administration seeks to bring more investors in the country to boost the economy and provide more jobs to Filipinos.
These groups claim to be fighting for the rights of the Filipino but can they not see that they are also stepping over the rights of other Filipinos who want to live peacefully, who just simply want to work to provide for their families.
Can't these groups not see that the more they sabotage an operation of a company, the company is in the risk of going bankrupt resulting to many jobs being lost?
Activities like these could eventually lead to lack of interest from investors despite the government's efforts to lure them in.
We call on the government to step up its efforts in protecting the welfare of not only our workers but also the welfare of the investors. We want to see government agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment to take a much more active role in this.
Progressive groups could present their demands and advance their causes to a proper forum and must also consider the consequences of their actions if indeed it serve good for the greater majority.
Investors, however, must work closely with the government and the labor sector to identify policies or practices that need to be ironed out.
We are calling all sectors to work together to promote a better business and labor environment in the country for the common good of the Filipino.