Life StorYnia: Labor Day Thoughts from a Regular Employee

It must feel good having a day off from your regular job, yeah? It must feel good having that extra time to be with your loved ones and spend some money to treat yourself. Well, this day is good if you are a lucky, priviledged, enough-earner, regular employee. But what happens to those who are not?

Soruce: philstar.com

I know, I know. It's not my problem anymore. I am a regular employee and I shouldn't worry about that contractualization thingy. Why would I spend time worrying about the workers who do all the hard work and yet get laid off because of "endo"? Why would I worry about those people whom I probably won't see in my favorite cafe while sipping my favorite latte just because they can't afford it? Why would I worry about those people who just wipe off my mess after I ate my favorite spaghetti from a huge ass fast food resto? Why?

Contractualization does not affect me. I won't probably experience endo because I'm a lucky person. I get enough benefits, I get double pay, I get HMO, I am treated well by my company.

But why do I spend time fighting for our workers' rights if the issue does not affect me?

It's not really about me getting more. It's about people getting less but work harder than me. In the Philippines, the more you do labor work, the lesser your pay. And the more you sit on a chair, feeling the coldness of airconditioner, the more you earn. Isn't it ironic?

Why would you care? You have a cellphone, a laptop and an Internet to enjoy. You might have a good couch to sit on while you browse the net. Why bother fighting for laborers' rights?

Easy. It's because you're human. You have a feeling, you know the concept of fairness. And you know that it's not right to keep our labor workers down just because you experience better.

I salute you, regular or contractual. I salute you, worker. You are doing great. Keep fighting for your rights. You deserve it. We deserve a country of fairness!