Overworked

(published on July 28, 2008 in Philippine Collegian)
by: Richard Jacob Dy

Unemployment rate as of April, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO): 8 percent
Number of unemployed Filipinos: 2.9 million
Number of underemployed, or those working less than 40 hours a week: 6.6 million

Number of employed Filipinos: 33.5 million
Percentage of workers in the services sector: 49.6 percent or 16.6 million
Percentage of workers in the agriculture sector: 33.5 percent or 11.9 million
Percentage of workers in the industry sector: 14.9 percent or 5 million

Daily minimum wage nationwide, except in the National Capital Region (NCR): P285 to P320
Daily minimum wage in NCR: P382
Actual minimum daily wage in Central Visayas, according to the National Wages and Productivity Commission: P156.25
Amount of minimum wage increase in Central Visayas effective June: P17

Total number of labor unions: 17,021 with 1,918,000 members
Number of labor unions that were able to secure collective bargaining agreements in 2007: 1,542
Total amount of minimum wage increase demanded by labor unions: P80 to P125

Total number of Filipinos abroad in 2007: 8.7 million
Number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW): 5 million
Number of Filipinos leaving everyday to work abroad: 3,000
Total amount of OFW remittances from January to May 2008: $6.8 billion or about P300 billion

Percentage increase in the prices of basic goods and commodities since 2001: 37.5 percent
Percentage increase in minimum wage since Gloria Arroyo assumed office in 2001: 18.6 percent