Employment and activity in the informal economy
It is in the informal sector where those who cannot find good jobs in the modern sector are absorbed. Here the rules and regulations of work and employment are ignored, or simply do not apply.
Duterte’s veto
The veto shows that Duterte’s populism remains for the moment “bridled”; by economic common sense, that is.
Veto of the SOT: promoting good jobs in the modern sector
President Duterte vetoed the “security of tenure” bill, bravely and for good reasons last week. It made good sense for the President to heed the pleas of the business sector simply by focusing on the country’s labor market situation.
Labor market — more employment or more rigidity?
The issue of endo is still with us. Today it is in the form of a bill in Congress that is awaiting passage. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) endorses its passage.
Hanjin Philippines shipbuilding bankruptcy
The Philippine business community was rocked on Jan. 8 by the announcement of the bankruptcy of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines – the Korean shipbuilding company based in the country.
Tourism as a driver of growth and employment
The Philippine tourism industry today is now much bigger than a decade ago. However, it is still a relatively small industry compared to the tourism industries among other ASEAN neighbors.
The minimum wage and economic progress
Unrealistic or excessive demands concerning minimum wage could escalate into unproductive outcomes for all involved. Unfortunately, in our present case, where the good jobs are less plentiful in relation to all the workers seeking to fill them, the imposition of high minimum wages will only cause loss of jobs for many workers.
What, me worry?
Duterte’s creeping authoritarianism, however, is being implemented in full view of an apathetic crowd.
Contractualization and the larger issue of employment and poverty reduction
The department of labor has finally signed off on the “endo” problem with Department Order No. 174. The outcome of the order will likely lead to more unemployment, some early confusion, and likely more dissatisfaction among stakeholders. The worst outcome is for labor – the unskilled and the unemployed and underemployed.
Ending ‘endo’ — larger issues
The call to end “contractualization” is but a continuation of the opposition led by organized labor against the practice of employing workers on a non-regular basis. Costly regulation or not, there are real economic reasons for the variety of contractual arrangements observed in the Philippine labor market.
More on ‘endo’ and employment
Removal of “endo,” or contractualization, is not as simple as proponents want it to be. It has major implications on the employment situation and, hence, on poverty.
Endo, wages, poverty, and employment-labor market issues
It is a paradox, but it is true. Measures that appear to be modest in terms of labor policy will allow us the greatest flexibility in achieving more development and improve the welfare of labor. This is borne out by the experience of many countries in our neighborhood.
