Angara calls for fair gender policies in the Phl labor force

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 2, 2011-In the recent study that women are more at risk of losing their jobs in the midst of ensuing economic crisis, Senator Edgardo J. Angara called the government and private sector institutions that there should be equal opportunities in the labor force and should develop and strictly implement gender fair policies to protect women workers and to promote opportunities for women's economic empowerment.

The International Labor Organization and the World Bank analysis revealed that female workers are more vulnerable to job loss, being seen as only the secondary or supplementary providers of income for households in Asia-Pacific countries.

Angara said that around 45 percent of working age women in Asia do not have regular employment compared to only 19 percent of men, citing that the Philippines has the number of female employees  may be considered high where there’s a significant difference between men and women’s representation in the labor force, adding that the area of labor and employment, women should not be discriminated in the civil, cultural and political spheres, and should be provided with laws and practices that would expand their capacities and opportunities for development.

In 2009, Angara had passed the Magna Carta for Women otherwise known as the Republic Act No. 9710 where it serves as a bill of rights enumerating all forms of discrimination against women and recommending special measures to achieve the country’s gender equality which he authored. (Jason de Asis)

DOLE 3 grants 2.5 million livelihood assistance to central Luzon community groups

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, May 2, 2011-The Department of Labor and Employment 3 (DOLE 3) under its Integrated Livelihood Program towards Community Enterprise Development (DILP-CED) awarded a total of 2.5 million livelihood assistance for the seven community groups in Central Luzon identified as the Kaunlaran ng mga Kababaihan para sa Kinabukasan SEA-K (Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran) Association of San Luis, Aurora (Sabutan Making); Alion Kapit-Bisig SEA-K Association of Mariveles, Bataan (Cashew Processing); OFW Family Circle of Bustos, Bulacan (Minsa Production); Parista Barangay Defense System Multi Purpose Cooperative of Lupao, Nueva Ecija (Mushroom Production); Water Liliy Handicraft Makers of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga; San Manuel Women’s Multi Purpose Cooperative of San Manuel, Tarlac (Ampalaya coffee and tea making) and the Masinloc Association of Handicraft Makers of Masinloc, Zambales.

DOLE 3 chief Leopoldo De Jesus said that the assistance sought to generate income and employment through the enhancement and transformation of livelihood projects in the barangays to community enterprises.

De Jesus, who personally awarded the monetary support to the grantees along with Labor Undersecretary Lourdes Trasmonte and partner agencies, said that their mandates do not stop in facilitating job opportunities alone, but rather, they are opening more opportunities by empowering each and every Filipino worker to venture into entrepreneurship through our integrated livelihood programs to improve their lives.

“Our agency together with its partners will continue to work for the betterment of the marginalized sector through the provision of livelihood and employment opportunity,” he added. (Jason de Asis)