Women’s issues proposed in 2007 senatorial debates
5-3-07
MANILA, Philippines — Women members of Partido ng Manggagawa (Party of Workers) have asked candidates to debate on women’s issues, particularly social justice to cover wage increases, labor contractualization, and health care.
“We challenge the senatorial candidates of both the administration and opposition to debate on the concerns of women. The debate cannot simply focus on whether the economy is getting better or not. It must center on the question whether the workers and the poor benefit from economic growth,” said PM’s Judy Miranda in a press statement.
“Economic growth is the narrow concern of capitalists who are sponsoring the March 14 debate among senatorial bets. Social justice is the broader issue that concerns the workers and women. We do not care if they hold the debate in Manila Hotel or Plaza Miranda. But we do care if they will talk about increasing wages, ending contractualization, and providing health care,” she said.
Miranda said candidates should talk about their positions on raising more taxes, on ratifying the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, and amendment of the Labor Code.
She pointed out that while poverty and hunger were problems of the masses in general, working and poor women bore the greater burden of making ends meet so that their families could survive.
Labor statistics for 2006 show that of the 35.7 million work force, about a third or some 12.8 million are employed women.
Partido ng Manggagawa said it would advocate the following platform for working and poor women: decent wages, regular jobs, cheap housing, health services, and welfare for children.
( www.inquirer.net )