Bishop: Protect workers from COVID-19
AS the country celebrated Labor Day, a Catholic bishop on Saturday called for more measures to protect workers amid the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than a year into the pandemic, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, of the Church People-Workers Solidarity, said the government has failed to protect workers’ rights.
“Government apathy and inefficiency has failed to protect workers’ safety and health. In the guise of ‘reviving the economy,’ workers’ safety and lives are put in jeopardy,” he said in his Labor Day message.
Alminaza lamented how millions of workers continue to suffer from the “ever-worsening” socio-economic conditions brought about by record high unemployment rate, rising inflation and lack of income.
He echoed the call of labor organizations for a P100 daily wage subsidy in order to augment the workers’ meager income.
The bishop pointed out that in order to keep the economy thriving, the government must keep the workers “protected and alive.”
“We believe that workers are the bloodline of the society,” he said.
The CWS also joins labor organizations and workers’ unions in demanding:
mass testing and aggressive contact tracing in workplaces free and safe vaccine for all workers a substantial cash aid for all and the passing of the Paid Pandemic Leave Bill.
Alminaza also condemned the “relentless” killings of activists, human rights defenders, labor leaders, and union members.
“We celebrate this year’s Labor Day in the midst of heightened economic onslaught and intensified political repression. As church people, we will not be silenced in the midst of these attacks. We will not cower in the midst of harassment, persecution, and intimidation,” he said.
