junior's plight

Junior works in a factory 6 days a week from 10pm up to 7am in the morning. He earns 4,500 pesos for a month’s work (less than $100). In a month’s time, he’ll find himself without a job because his 6-month contract will soon expire.

Contractualization has become the main form of labor in the Philippines. It has deprived workers of their right to job security, work benefits and right to join unions and organizations. Studies say that workers on contractual basis has rose to 80% of the labor force.

The most famous and biggest chain of department stores in the Philippines – SM department store, employs only 4,000 regular employees and around 20,000 workers on contractual basis – with employment contracts lasting only 3 to 5 months.

The rampant use of contractualization and labor flexibility schemes by capitalists have caused the disbandment of hundreds of labor unions.

Without any law to govern contractualization in the country, and no right to participate in labor organization -if there's any- in their factory, Junior and thousands more like him would continue to embrace the fangs of contractual labor.

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