How often do we hear about “evil” foreign employers as the justification for protectionism? I find that hard to believe because in general, when it comes to employee compensation and benefits – Filipino companies are worse than foreign companies. Note that there are companies with foreign-sounding names but whose owners are majority Filipino. Oftentimes, the foreign partners want compliance with rules and regulations – the local partners will boast about “connections” and “cost-cutting”… at a price of course. To maximize revenue, the local partners (being the majority) control the operations and the agenda – and are responsible for flagrant violations of the law.
Here’s a story on the behavior of the typical Filipino company from Mindanao’s Mindanews
Bukidnon SP to probe labor contractualization in agri firms
By Walter I. Balane | Tuesday| July 13, 2010 | Filed under: Business, Governance, Top StoriesMALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/12 July) – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bukidnon will look into reports agribusiness firms in the province have resorted to labor contractualization and are paying their workers wages far below the minimum rates set by law.
In the SP’s inaugural session last Wednesday, Vice Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. said some contractual workers are receiving as low as P30 per day.
Zubiri said he will summon not only the big companies but also small employers, including cooperatives, to an inquiry to shed light on what he called the growing trend of contractualization.
But the SP has not yet set the date for the inquiry.
“If they allow these companies, there might be a time that the workers will no longer be able to support their families,” Zubiri said during the session, which was attended mostly by provincial government officials and employees… Read more
(Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)
Now compare the Filipino agri-business firms being investigated against this Taiwanese firm
DONGGUAN, China — If fixing labor conditions in the high-tech supply chain seems hopeless, consider the case of Xiao Yang.
Xiao, a young migrant worker from Henan Province, works at a factory in Dongguan, this one a 5,000-employee high-tech firm owned by Taiwan’s Chicony. The firm supplies keyboards, computer mice and other peripherals to the world’s top PC firm, HP, and other major brands.
The factory looks like any other in this part of China, and doesn’t have state-of-the-art facilities. But it feels like a different world.
“At this factory, we get paid for annual leave and other conditions, according to the law,” said Xiao, while showing a GlobalPost reporter around tidy dorm rooms. “It’s well-known among other workers as a good factory.”
Workers have access to KTV (karaoke) and a basketball court. They get free annual medical checks. And every once in a while they dine on chicken feet – considered a big delicacy for Chinese kids from the countryside, and unheard of at other factories.
Most importantly, though, they say they know their rights, and management listens to them. A telephone hotline allows them to make anonymous complaints. Every Friday, managers post a list of the complaints they’ve received and how they’re being resolved.
All this didn’t happen on its own. In what is thought to be the first project of its kind in the industry, HP collaborated with several Hong Kong nonprofit groups to improve conditions at its supplier factories.
Starting in the summer of 2007, the nonprofits worked with Chicony to educate workers about their rights. One group, the Chinese Working Women Network, set up and ran the workers’ complaint hotline, and then trained workers themselves to run it.
HP covered the Chinese Working Women Network’s costs for the training, but declined to reveal the total amount. Chicony pitched in its own funds to improve the factory’s food and other working conditions.
“The cost is affordable to any company — even small suppliers could handle the amount,” said Ernest Wong, a Hong Kong-based supply chain responsibility official for HP. “But the cost isn’t the critical point. The key is how you engage with the supplier company.”
At first, convincing skeptical Chicony managers to work with an NGO wasn’t easy, said Jenny Chan, formerly with the Hong Kong-based group Students and Scholars against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM), which coordinated the project at Chicony (SACOM says it receives no direct funding from HP).
“It’s like a marathon,” said Chan. “It’s so tough to convince factory managers that these are new expectations, not only from your customers, but from global citizens and how they think of a good and competitive factory.”
But to listen to one Chicony manager, the firm has found the corporate responsibility religion. Chen Jianqiao said that the program has created a “win-win situation” for both management and workers. Workers are more efficient because they feel their voices are heard and respected; management wins points and new business with Western customers and has fewer conflicts with employees.
“The benefit to the workers is a benefit to the company,” said Chen. “Because of this program, our customers have noticed, and our business is going well despite the economic crisis. We haven’t experienced any downturn.”
Foreign companies tend to have more value-added components. Filipino companies tend to be resource extractive, low value-added, and labor intensive.
Foreign companies tend to compete based on a value differentiation strategy – while Filipino companies tend to compete based on labor costs solely.
In the event of a price war, the Filipino company will look at labor as the first target of cost reduction. In contrast, foreign companies will look at optimizing processes, sales volumes, and strategic relationships.
Filipino Companies and their Track Record in Complying with Regulations
Resource-wise, consider the mining industry – who really is breaking the law? – the foreigner or the Filipino “small scale miner”?
Illegal small-scale mining prevalent in Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley
DAVAO CITY — Small-scale miners operating without permits remain rampant in the Davao region, data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) showed.
“We are still waiting for a big number of small-scale miners to file their mining contract applications,” MGB Regional Director Edilberto L. Arreza told journalists here.
Small-scale miners — operating with or without permits — are centered in the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, he said.
In Compostela Valley, these operations are clustered in Diwalwal and Pasian in Monkayo; Mainit in Nabunturan; Bango in Compostela; Palali in Mabini; North Davao Mining Co. area in Maco; Boringot in Pantukan; Pamintaran in Maragusan; and Batoto in New Bataan.
In Davao Oriental, the operations are in Punta Linao in Banaybanay; the chromite mining area in Gov. Generoso; the chromite mining areas in Lupon and Mati City; and Road 5 in Boston.
Spreading
“Small-mining communities are expanding,” Mr. Arreza noted.
In the case of Diwalwal, which is part of an 8,000-hectare mining reservation, records of the agency showed that most small-scale miners did not have permits to operate.
And while “they are willing to apply,” there is no clear policy from the state-run Philippine Mining Development Corp. (PMDC) on this issue.
The PMDC and the group of small-scale miners led by village head Francisco J. Tito have been at odds lately. Mr. Tito said the state firm should allow small-scale miners to operate in an area the government had reserved for big mining companies. – CQF
Does this mean the Aquino government is skewed in favor of big mining?
Personally, I think as long as the mining operation meets the “golden rule” proposed by the Jeweler’s Association, am okay with it
* Respect basic human rights outlined in international conventions and law
* Obtain the free, prior, and informed consent of affected communities.
* Respect workers’ rights and labor standards, including safe working conditions
* Ensure that operations are not located in areas of armed or militarized conflict
* Ensure that projects do not force communities off their lands
* Ensure that projects are not located in protected areas, fragile ecosystems, or other areas of high conservation or ecological value
* Refrain from dumping mine wastes into the ocean, rivers, lakes, or streams
* Ensure that projects do not contaminate water, soil, or air with sulfuric acid drainage or other toxic chemicals
* Cover all costs of closing down and cleaning up mine sites
* Fully disclose information about social and environmental effects of projects
* Allow independent verification of the above
You don’t have to look afar for violators – it’s in our own backyard – they are also FILIPINOS.
While it is true that extraction is not our core competency but it can be a vehicle to gain competency. W can require foreign companies to:
- 1- Hire at least 8% of employees are Filipino citizens
- 2- Heavy equipment should be purchased locally (or at least 50%) – incentives will be given for local purchases of heavy equipment (to spur our light manufacturing industries)
- 3 – Escrow fund should be available, interest to pay for scholarship in the following: geodetic engineers, mining engineers, environmental engineers, local high school and college with focus on science (or an endowment fund in a state university for the previously mentioned courses).
- 3-a – Scholars will have preferential option in hiring
- 3-b A Recreational Park/Community Center for the Community complete with pools, picnic tables, gyms, basketball and tennis courts, football courts, concert hall, food court, rest rooms -(this is a regular fixture in US suburbs and mid-range apartments upwards) -
This is of course on top of the other regulations put in place that involve citizen oversight in every step of the way.
In the short-term we have other competencies – not involved in extraction, that can be integrated upstream (jewelry) and downstream. in the long-term we create the policy to develop our core competencies.
I wonder how the compensation of employees in BPI/PAL/MERALCO/PLDT compare to the employees of CONVERGYS and ACCENTURE.
Who does the 1987 Constitution Protect? The Filipino Big Businesses or the Filipino Customer/Employee?
Which begs the question – are we being “protected” from “evil” foreigners or are we sheep kept in a farm, kept away from “wolves” – so that the “shepherd” can slaughter the sheep for meat. or cull them for wool.
Better yet, if we are “slaves” – who really is the better master? The Filipino employer or the Foreign employer? Is the Filipino employee’s “suffering” more bearable because he works for a Filipino company? My take is hell is hell – whether foreign or Filipino. If it’s a hell created foreigners, I don’t want it. If it’s a hell created by Filipinos – I don’t want it either. I prefer “heaven” – it doesn’t matter whether it’s foreign or Filipino. If it pays my bills – mortgage, education, food, entertainment, savings, retirement – and I still have some disposable income left – I’m for it.
Remember that the Philippines has a huge population size – 90 million people. That’s a captive market of the FILIPINO COMPANIES – Thanks to the 1987 Philippine constitution – we are “protected from unfair foreign competition” but we are rendered helpless by unfair domestic competition – from collusion to monopolies to outright fraud – BY FILIPINO COMPANIES.
The Constitution shouldn’t be allowed to regulate the citizens choices for good products and services. Opening up the agri market to allow foreign majority shares in the Philippines will introduce competition, leading to innovation and a more effective use of customers’ money.
Filipino companies need to upgrade their paradigms
Filipinos need to learn to compete based on value differentiation and master their supply chain and supply networks because the rules of the game have changed. Technology – specifically, IT and the Internet have made it possible to respond to customer demand (that’s us, you and I, customers – me Tarzan you Jane 
) in real time – at a place and time and price of their choosing. It’s no longer just about your resources – it’s about using your resources and adding value to it. Don’t just sell bananas – sell bananas that are “ripened to perfection”.
Filipino companies that persist on competing based on labor cost differentiation should be allowed to die – their employees can be absorbed by their competitors or by the new owners. Filipino companies that innovate their processes and activities to generate value will thrive. This benefits the Filipino employees because Filipino companies will have to provide better compensation in order to retain their employees. The industry also benefits because of innovation.
For the meantime, we will have to stick with the same usual suspects. After all, they built the economic moat, they kept the intruders out, so who else is handing out the payroll? You guessed it right – FILIPINO COMPANIES ONLY! 
Innovation and the 1987 Philippine Constitution
Do I want Filipino companies to die? The inefficients ones that refuse to innovate? YES. The ones that deliver superior VALUE? NO. Thanks to the 1987 Philippine Constitution – we don’t have much of a choice except the same lousy FILIPINO companies – they thrive, we starve – because we cling to our protectionist delusions. Meralco increases power rates, Aquino remains silent, customers have no choice – isn’t that a form of imprisonment?
Why should we Filipino customers be penalized for MERALCO’s inefficiency? Opening up the electric utility sector to majority-owned companies will not be a threat to the Filipino customer but it will be a threat to MERALCO. Without the protection of the Constitution, MERALCO will be forced to review its processes and asset base so it can match or beat the competition. This improves the Philippines’ infrastructure and lowers the cost of utilities.
We need more choices – change the constitution and remove the protectionist clauses that stifle our economic freedom. The earlier we tackle this issue and get it done – the closer we get to a more equitable market-driven distribution of wealth based on equal access to investment, trade, tourism, and employment opportunities in the Philippines.
>
> 1 – 100% of employees are Filipino citizens
>
> 2 – Heavy equipment should be purchased locally (or at least 50%) – incentives will be given for local purchases of heavy equipment (to spur our light manufacturing industries)
>
> 3 – Escrow fund should be available, interest to pay for scholarship in the following: geodetic engineers, mining engineers, environmental engineers, local high school and college with focus on science (or an endowment fund in a state university for the previously mentioned courses).
>
> 3-a Scholars will have preferential option in hiring
>
> 3-b A Recreational Park/Community Center for the Community complete with pools, picnic tables, gyms, basketball and tennis courts, football courts, concert hall, food court, rest rooms -(this is a regular fixture in US suburbs and mid-range apartments upwards) -
>
> This is of course on top of the other regulations put in place that involve citizen oversight in every step of the way.
>
> In the short-term we have other competencies – not involved in extraction, that can be integrated upstream and downstream. in the long-term we create the policy to develop our core competencies.
His advocacies include education and and the environment. BongV is a founding trustee of READ Philippines, Inc - a tax-exempt, non-profit organization registered in the State of Florida and recognized as a charitable organication under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code -. He is also a trustee of the Kinasang'an Foundation (KSFI). KSFI is the community service arm of the family-owned Shimric Beach Farm a best environmental practices World Wildlife Fund-Philippines awardee.
His initial entry into politics started in high school, after an Arrest Search and Seizure Order (ASSO) was slapped against his father who at that time was undergoing training in reconstructive surgery in San Francisco's Bothin Burns Center. He was in the frontlines in the 80s as Chairman of LFS-AdDU, and subsequently LFS-Davao City Secretary General. His militant views underwent a transformation after working as an investment promotions officer (later on Division Chief of the Investment Generation and Project Development Division of the Davao Investment Promotion Center) - a project of the Davao City LGU, USAID, and the Phil Exporters Confederation-XI- with the goal of achieving an economic turnaround for Davao City based on the growth of investments, trade, and services.
He opted out of medical school, after finishing BS Biology from the Ateneo de Davao University. Instead he dove into IT consulting/freelancing as a system integrator and developer. BongV is a certified Professional Logistics Specialist and is a member of the American Society of Transportation and Logistics. He is currently working on his advanced certification in supply chain management at the University of North Florida
It blew me away to see newspaper ads or job postings that specifically ask for a certain gender, certain age, certain height, certain school, in the Philippines.
This is a major lawsuit in the United States. From what I gather, it looks like the Philippines is a century behind the rest of the developed countries.
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J.B. Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
And its getting sadder when the applicants, instead of raising the discriminatory issue, find the requirement a source of spin-off joke.
For example, “Must have pleasing personality”. The locals translate them “someone with a funny face”.
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Jon Abaca Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
“This is a major lawsuit in the United States. From what I gather, it looks like the Philippines is A century behind the rest of the developed countries.”
A century? Maybe 3 or more centuries behind. In some provinces, the combination of private armies and nepotism has created feudalism.
Many Filipinos lover preserving archaic ideas in every facet of life.
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Miriam Quiamco Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 1:40 am
Ironically, it is not only in the Philippines where you can read sexist, ageist and racist ads, Japan and South Korea have them too, this could be an Asian thing. . .
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mario taporco Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 3:58 am
@miriam,
In philippines the older you get, more arrogant you become. Younger generations, please do question your authority, if they are proven wrong. So be it. This how we do, or atleast I do.
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Miriam Quiamco Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 5:57 am
I know Mario, you belong to the under 35 crowd and you have every right to question these arrogant and swaggering oldies, LoL.
ulong pare Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
… daaang
… get real, jonh d and all you flip employer haters!
… reality check: in ‘merka, some jobs REQUIRE certain age, gender, looks, etc., etc…. you’ll hafta fork out to fight discrimation lawsuit thingy…
… my basureros require high IQ, top physical forms, tom cruise/brad pitt looks aka makalaglag panty department…
… for example the media: you don’t see uglyass, wrinkled-dried-up prunes looking people in the front line
… if you don’t have what it takes, you’re not gonna be hired…
… let’s see: flip employers vs evil foreigners:
>>> have y’all seen and/or talked to ofws in the middle east?
>>> have y’all wondered why ofws ran away from their masters/bossings?
>>> have you asked yourselves why ofws committed suicides? jumped out of their penthouses?
… i wouldn’t use tsekwas’ job propas… tsekwas slaves are treated worsts than flip slaves…
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ChinoF Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
Sila Noli De Castro and Frankie Hibanghelista lang nakita kong ganito… Noli particularly went somewhere. Pero onga, puro beauties pa rin ang kinukuha ngayon… It pays well to look good. hehehe
Yung sa Saudi and tsekwa mastahs, given na yan, kasi strikto sa Saudi and Chinese are high in expectations. Ganun na rin yan dito sa Pinas. hehehe
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BongV Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
@UP naman… UP Law School grad bakwet to merka… continues lawyering.in Kalipornya specialize in mortage and immigration – firm makes lotsa money .. even hires TNT :lol:, – employee wa wa we… lawyer: yes yes yeah
filipino lawyer has “company” to petition you – but you pay to get petitioned
flip employee work for flip lawyer’s firm – no salary if flip lawyer and wife goes on vacation
then flip lawyers attempts to use employees SSN to get a mortgage and flip the house – flip employees threatened by flip lawyer employer with revocation of petition.deportation if they don’t “cooperate”
flip employee now deep in debt with flip lawyer “employer” for “petitioner’s fee”, “lawyer’s fee”, “filing fee”, “advertising fee” – per head – AND MORTGAGE!!!
hay naku Flip Employer – Flip employee’s nightmare
ulong pare Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
… daaang
@BongV naman naman namannn….
… i was about to use a UP law gradwet… when i spoke to him, i changed my mind… kasi, tagilid sa korte… kung ako, di ko maintindihan ang sinasabi ni UP grad, allah eh, si judge judy pa kaya…
… so i opted to hire a whitey with impeccable english deliberation… parang news anchor ang voice…
BongV Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
flip lawyer’s would-be boss is you… but flip employees boss is still d flip lawyer.. not you
and you opted to hire whitey employer.. who had flip employees too
ChinoF Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Also…
Hmm, I wonder if OFWs ran away from their bosings because they laid in bed with the bosing’s son/daughter, if they stole money from bosing’s coffer or if they snuck liquor under their Saudi bosing’s nose.
They jump out of their penthouses when they lose their chekwa bets or when bosing finds out about the people they keep in bed kasi non-existent na si mister or misis.
Flips mga gunggongs nga.
[Reply]
ulong pare Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
… daaang
… i was involved in repatriating ‘sang tambaks na ofws from mideast…
… rule #1: bossings/masters hold ofws passports… para walang takbuhan..
… the main reason for ofw ranaways are:
>>> 1) rape by bossings and sons;
>>> 2) golpe de matronas and daughters;
>>> 3) non/late payment;
>>> 4) inhumane treatment, working hours, 24/7;
>>> 5) scarcity of food, fed left overs;
>>> 6) homesick… na miss ang ‘sang tambaks na palamunins sa flipland…
>>> 7) echastera, etc…
BongV Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
dang… only to come home to the same thing
ChinoF Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
In short, talo ang mga Flips whether home or abroad, kasi mga bosing mga gunggong…
Swertehan lang ang may mabait na boss no?
ulong pare Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
… daang
… homeys with legit skills/education land good paying jobs anywhere in the world… reputable corporation seek our talents and our working habits… yoooOOOoo hoooOOOooo…mabuhay tayong lahat!
… but, in reality, majority of flip ofws are unfortunate not to have the proper educations and skill, which most of the jobs they accept do not require anyways, i.e. house slaves, hardineros, etchastera, etc…
… another aspect of flip ofws is the fedex route – mail order bride, entertainers/singers… i’ve seen a lot of them end up in red light districts of amsterdam, gay paris, milan, madrid, etc…
… ate glo&traposakals encouraged and legalized slave trade… instead of enticing corporations to set shop in flipland, they encouraged flips to ‘bakwet to some far flung corner of humanity where flipland has a nimble presense…
… o sinong hihirit jan???
BongV Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
homeys with legit skills/education land good paying jobs anywhere in the world BUT the Philippines
it’s all about the konek
ulong pare Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
…daaang
… BongV naman naman naman
… flips with ivy league credentials ‘bakwet to flipland as supremo abugagos y abugago supremo… like husitsya corona…
… kasi in ‘merka, ivy leagued abugagos are only good at petitions, visa renewals, ssi claims, balikbayan box/remittance biz…
… i went to a flipflam abugago insane diego… ay sus ginoo… siguradong kulong ako kung siya ang aking abugado in the court of law… impakto na ang accent… siguradong ICE will deport my ass back to kangkungan…
BongV Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
flips with ivy credentials don’t want to compete in ‘merca – they are small fry in big pond
they go to flipland where they are big fish in small pond
and this has done flipland any good?
flipland get iyutized just like d forex (45x more than local iyut) – like the Dubya oiler homeys iyutizing Louisiana
Coincidentally, I kinda joined an anti foreign forum on Monday. The barangay capt. says it’s also the bigwigs at the Palace that wants to monopolize the area.
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MNC’s compliance with standard labor/management, environmental practices has become necessary due to the demands of consumers in developed countries themselves for them to be accountable. I say this is one positive aspect of globalization, non-commercial interests represented by NGOs have forced big muntinationals to adhere to compliance requirements set by the industries in developed countries. It means MNCs cannot just move operations elsewhere to circumvent stringent regulations they face if they operate in their home countries. Certification of compliance to basic standards of operations is now sought by many big corporations, all western ones of course because of the raised consciousness of their public. Anti-globalization rallies are mostly in advanced industrialized economies and these corporations could be held accountable by the citizens of their countries should they blatantly violate all norms of labor/management and environmental concerns.
Filipino corporations being mostly local, operating in a lowly evolved cultural environment where legal standards for business operations are routinely violated, and without any corresponding pressure from the public to comply, just won’t behave responsibly. Even Japanese corporations will breach standards where profitability is threatened in a subtle way of course, as they are not held to the same standards as the Western public holds their corporations to.
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BongV’s point that MNCs are better employers is valid to a certain extent. But, what about MNCs in special economic zones where they enjoy special privileges and where labor standards are lowered to entice MNCs, where labor unions are banned for example, the argument that MNCs are better employers may not hold water. China has specifically been targeted by NGOs working to make MNCs more accountable because of the absence of state regulations to make companies accountable. I know of one NGO based in the U.S. which services big MNCs , it conducts audits of how MNCs complies with international standards of operations: labor/management, environment/safety and issues certificates to those that are in compliance, making them more appealing to politically correct consumers in their home countries. There are even investors in the west now that check companies’ records on compliance with international standards for labor/management, environment/safety. You see how a public’s raised consciousness could force companies to observe laws and regulations. We simply don’t have this consciousness in our country, where the main concern is to earn money as easy and as quick as possible. The mining operators in Davao are a case in point, the government should do something about this without causing ethnic rebellion. We should create a situation there which is a win-win for everyone. The status quo is too dangerous and non-sustainable.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 10:46 am
@Miriam – with regards to MNCs in Ecozones – I say it’s all a case to case basis.
I am not sure whether ecozones are allowed to pay lower rates than domestic wage – if it were then that is definitely an issue.
What I do know is that MNCs in ecozones such as Timex in Cebu are among the most sought after positions.
A lot of MNC’s in the ecozones provide better compensation and benefits than their local equivalents – or they could lose their workers and miss their deadlines leading to a performance failure. Filipino companies OTOH just laugh missed deadlines away – then blame imperialists why they are losing business
[Reply]
miriam quiamco Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 12:38 am
Thanks BongV, the last part of your explanation makes a lot of sense. I know for a fact that the Japanese-run banana plantations in Davao do give generous benefit-package to their workers and many in the surrounding barrios are thankful for the stability of jobs that the banana and pineapple plantations provide. I am sad to say this is not something you can say about the sugar plantations of the hacienderos, this alone showcases the difference in farm management styles. It seems N/A could learn a lesson or two from the MNCs that are managing the pineapple and banana plantations in Davao. The “stockholders” in Hacienda Luisita were given dividends only once and when they complained, they got fired and since the policy was no pay for no work, where in the world would the real owners of HL get the money for daily sustenance, and N/A the saint did not seem to care.
[Reply]
BongV Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 10:48 am
@miriam, you raised a good point about the present-day japanese/american-run banana/pineapple plantations versus the haciendero-run sugarcane and rice plantations.
compare the benefits between DOLE Philippines and say the Filipino owned companies.
Again, BongV beat me to the punch to a topic I have long wanted to post on.
Some Filipino retailers are also assholes. I know of an art store in Manila where if you just browse and don’t buy anything, the people there will be rude to you and may even send you out. As a scale modeler, I know of a model store where the owner, if he is around, will shout at browsers who don’t buy, “Hoy! Tingin-tingin ka dyan, wala ka namang bibilhin!” In these examples, Iya J is right in saying that Filipinos are rude. Even Filipino businessmen are rude.
This shows that customer service, or at least courtesy to customers, is a foreign concept. Without foreign concepts, we will not advance or be a country with some modern development. See, if the Filipino company is left to its own devices, it is one of the worst-behaved in the world.
Mga pu__ng in_ng mga Pilipino, don’t you know that we are learning a lot of good things from the foreigners! Then you want to keep them out? Bulok kayo! You deserve the condition you’re in!
As if that E-Motion story BenK described from Emil Jurado’s column doesn’t show how “evil” Filipino employers or businesses can be. Again, Filipinos can be evil… if not even more evil than foreigners.
Filipino employers require the stupidest things. They may require you to be part of the exchange gift at Christmas, they require you to go to the boss’s birthday party in a faraway province, they require you to do this and that. Then they’ll call you stupid if you can’t do these stupid. Hypocrite employers.
This is the reason I stayed work-at-home. I don’t want to work for an asshole company ever again.
[Reply]
WTF DUDE!!! Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 3:30 am
i agree to every word you said xD dang i wish i have people like you in my town
[Reply]
juanon Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
You’re a scale modeler from Mechapinoy Chino? Hehe I think I’ve met you before, and I think I know which shops you were referring to :p
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ChinoF Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:12 am
Ahaha, yeah, you got it. I only cited these examples from personal knowledge, since they do add to illustrations of the problem. And with the kind of salary I’ve been getting these days, kits have become way out of reach.
So much for contributing to deficit reduction through e-vat. hehe
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ChinoF Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:14 am
BTW, this is Scrat. LOL
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Even on Facebook, I have seen a few, if not many independent Filipinos are merchandising their apparels and goods. I think it’s very innovative ways, on their part.
For them to partake on a business networking, is a movement to be self sufficient. (our own nation would not provide nor provide the needs for our people, not alone filipino businesses who are giving measly centavos allowance a day) It is an open market and demand, out in the World Wide Web.
More power to these new talents, that are offering their sales pitch in a broader sense. The Internet Market.
If Philippines does not compete nor conform with such diverse technology, and open it’s playing field to the foreign investors, Philippines is setting itself for a major economic collapse…!
[Reply]
NotMasochisticFilipino Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 10:23 am
I’d like to know how exactly the economy will suffer if these ‘protectionist laws’ are not revised. I’m pretty sure more people will do something if they know the full details and extent of the consequences.
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BongV Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Just look at the present economy – which is a product of the protectionist constitution – it already IS suffering.
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NotMasochisticFilipino Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
Indeed it is suffering, and yet it is here to stay. I’d like to know what will economy (or better yet Philippine lifestyle) look like let’s say, 10, 20, 50 years from now with the protectionist laws still intact. Will our situation then be comparable to the time of “war aftermath”?
definitely a good read and true as well. If Philippines in gearing towards Global Pinoy then we should open the stream for foreign investors to come. We have alot of talented Filipinos just hanging around discouraged by the local companies they are working for. Heck, a call center agent has a more comprehensive medical insurance plan as compared to an upper level manager working for a local firm.
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… daaang
… hey y’all, how do you consider this situations?
… hurricane katrina clean-up
>>> janitors/slaves/demolition workers were housed in trailers… not allowed to talk to media or any outsiders… mostly likely flip tnts and illegals…
… european flip ofws – baby sitters, doggie sitters, dickey sitters, hugas pfwets, etc…
>>> not allowed to socialize with their masters/bossings… must eat, sleep, sh!t on master’s schedules… sunday off – doon nakatambak sa patio ng mga simbahan sa roma, la bella napoli, gay paris, madrid, etc… nagtitinda ng pansit, sinigang, etc to earn extra euros…
… saudis, bahrain, arabo-kambing-tupa eating, allah akbar flip ofws…
>>> just visit one of the flipland’s consulate in any of middle eastern countries… ‘sang tambaks na flip ranaways resort to prostitution to survive… nakatambak/squatting under the bridge in saudis…
… hay naku flips, puro kayo buwangwang y gung gongs!
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BongV Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
ganito para epols to epols… flipass employer vs ksa employer vs blackwater vs haliburton
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What I’ve learned in Managing people are:
(1) You must give Respect and Dignity to your immediate subordinates, and to the lowest rank employees.- If this factor is overlooked. You will never trancend your corporation’s level to a better level. This includes : pays, benefits, fair compensations, including leave of absences. People have families. They need to eat better and live better; in order to produce good performances.
I see foreign companies coming here to outsource; to take advantage of the low pay of Filipino labor. Once, they find other locations, that can offer lower pay. They close shop, and move to that country. Labor on contractual basis are the trend of companies. On the reason that: (1) They can pay lower wages. (2) They don’t provide benefits. (3) They can overwork and underpay their employees, at their discretion. Once they complain; you can easily terminate them. (4) No Health insurance, retirement benefits to provide. You are above the labor law; because the employees are temporary. This is the product of foreign outsourcing of labor; that the Noynoy Aquino is trying to promote; with the OFWs. How long will we become SLAVES in our own country and as OFWs?
(2) You must communicate with the lowest level where you want to take them – the company’s goals must be clear to all. Because, it’s like going to war. You must know your objectives. This includes also: working with other people in your corporation. You have to promote an easily realized: mission statement, for all to understand. I find Noynoy Aquino has a great handicap and difficulty in working with others. He cannot even work with his Vice President Binay. And he is blaming Vice President Binay for this situation. He must take a good look a himself.
Noynoy Aquino has no corporate management experience; aside from managing his Hacienda Luisita, that is a family corporation. No good management or technical education. He cannot just rely on his advisers to do his job and render good decisions. He has a popular name. It is all he can offer. You have voted an Impostor/Deceiver.
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ulong pare Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
… daang
… ahem ahemmm ahemmm, H toro…
… ‘merkan companies’ ultimate goal/bottom line >>> profit, $ang tambak$ na $$$ (dividends) to satisfy me (investors/share holders)… if i don’t get my roi, i transfer my shares to flipland…. ngek!
… i don’t care if they (‘merkan cos) used turd world sweat shops, child labor, inhumane treatment, etc, as long as my monthly statements reflect $$$ for my next rolls royce… (my silver shadow is kinda old)
… i don’t care if ‘sang tambaks na ‘merkan are out of work because the company decided to relocate to tsekwaland or flipland or bombay for penny labor cost… unemployed could spend hours/days at the unemployment office to get welfare checks… of course, they have to take a number behind flipflams SSI receipients…
… 90% of ‘merkan cos relocated overseas… using slave wage… ‘merkan unionized labor is way too expensive and ‘sang tambaks ang lawsuits and environmental laws that companies have to follow…
… just bug the prez debonaire obama administration for JOBS JOBS JOBS…
… or join tea party and blame illegals, arizona style… bwi hi hi hi hi hi
… hay naku, mga flips/flipflams, puro kayo mga gung gongs…
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Hyden Toro Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
“For lack of better term. Greed is good; it works”; the mantra of Gordon Gecko’s in the corporate world. So, they nearly bankrupted investors. I would like to take their necks and wring their heads off. These Swines! Celso de los Angeles of the Philippines, included.
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ulong pare Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
… daaang
… my point exactly, H toro…
… my thingy is : COWARDS NEVER GOT STARTED, THE WEAK, DIED ALONG THE WAY…
… play the game like your life depends on it….UTAKAN LANG YAN…
… like my idolo-bigotilyo-iyutero- gung gong prez erap: WEDER WEDER LANG YAN… he’s good for forex, nothing else…
Aegis-Judex Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Makes me wish for more MNCs edging out the Oligarchs.
BongV Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
as a PBC resident (blue eagle) would say,
american employees worst nightmare: american employers
flip call center employees’ paradise: american employers:
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ulong pare Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 10:46 am
… daaang
EMPLOYER VS EMPLOYEE relationship around the globe basically follow the same mantra…
… in flipland, flip workers complain because they have a “home” to come home to… they are ****y… kahit kumukulo ang tiyan… happy ang mga gung gongs kasi, they are in the company of kapwa tambays & palamunins; maghapong inuman, then iyot when darkness envelope the ‘hood…
… overseas, flip workers/ofw will not complain because they’d be tossed back to kangkungan/flipland… NAKAKAHIYA sa mga kamag-anaks, mga kaibigan, mga amuyongs! so they rather stay even in hostile enrivonment… there’s no other flip to vent out to… all alone… in the dark… tra la la la la (me, singing)
… por eksampol:
>>> my kahera, left my biznez to ‘bakwet to hong kong (nainggit kasi sa mga nag-abroad). six months later, she’s asking me for a loan for her eplen ticket back home… she didn’t like to be a house slave and being separated from her tribe… she told me that she wasn’t making that much peso in hong kong…
… buti nga sa kanya… i have a new kahera… ay sus ginoo… sexing sexy… aya yay yay yay!
The Filipino employer isn’t the worst IMO. Its the Chinese, especially ones from mainland. Its an open secret that a lot of Chinese employers are inhuman when it comes to treatment of their employees.
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ChinoF Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:24 am
Can be true. Add to that the tendency for greater nepotism, that businesses stay within the family even if the relatives know nothing. The type of family focus here has its detrimental effects.
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Hyden Toro Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 8:59 am
It is a cycle of laborers mistreatment. “You want the job?” ; here is your pay:U.S. $1 a day. People who do not have jobs, like our people; will sell their dignity, just to have jobs. It is a vicious cycle fueled by Greed. The Mexicans and the Latinos are climbling the fences at the U.S. borders just to get jobs, at starvation wages. Our Filipino “Tago ng Tago” (TNT) are sacrificing their sanities; not to be deported; just to work as Caregivers, at starvation wages in the U.S. It is just a by product of Corporate Greed, or we call it employer’s Greed.
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BongV Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Greed is good. Being too greedy is bad. What’s the point in going into business if not to make a profit? Without any businesses making a profit will effin employees have a job at all?
If employees think they are that good and know better than the company – then why don’t employees resign from the company – and set up their own company – and hire their own employees. pay peanuts and you get monkeys.
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i now wonder if there’s a chicken-and-egg problem in terms of local labor. i am aware of stories of totally abusive workers who band together and create local workers unions, and demand all sorts of nearly impossible things from management. is the local Labor Code to blame? the Labor Code states that all disputes are to be resolved in favor of labor, so would that be a deterrent to local employers- who may be well intentioned but have less capital than MNCs- to actually have good labor practices. just wondering out loud. cheers guys.
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zero-one Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:22 am
There’s a bias, yes, but not as badly as you think (or at least, it *shouldn’t* be that bad). Yes, disputes should generally be resolved in favor of labor, but only insofar as the laborer is disadvantaged and there is a clear injustice being done upon said laborer. The goal of the Labor Code isn’t so much to eat labor **** 24/7, as it is about leveling the playing field. There *have* been cases where employers actually win.
But that’s the *goal*, anywho.
Local labor do a lot of bs. But so do local management. Guess we’re pretty ****ed here, aye?
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Hyden Toro Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Contractual employees, with the term on their contracts: “can be terminated at will.”; do not go to resolve labor issues at the Labor Department. Employers have to have them sign the contract, before they are employed.
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ulong pare Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 11:52 am
… daaang
… day workers (like me) are at the bottom to the employment rung…
… together with wetbacks, nakatambay dito sa parking lot ng home depot/lowe’s… or corner gas stations… hoping for somebody need some help/assistance in their yard/house work…
… on a good day, i earn $50… most days, GUTOMMMMM….. waaaaah waaaaa…. mommmmmmy…
ChinoF Reply:
July 15th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Yeah, I think the Labor Code is poorly made. BenK himself commented that’s it’s lousy in several places. Need to visit the Bad Manners Gun Club to review.
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I have to disagree with you here daaang, Ate Glo ended the entertainment visas that used to be issued by the Japanese embassy to Filipino women coming to Japan to work at the their entertainment districts. This is laudable because when this scheme was at its peak, 100,000 visas a year were made available by the Japs to the Flip women, it made a big trade out of sending entertainers to Japan, entertainers being a euphemism for semi-prostitution work, not that all those entertainers are prostitutes but a great number get exploited with the gangsters confiscating their passports so they cannot escape. It is not only the Flip women who experience this, many other Asian women too and now Eastern European women and even Russians. We cannot blame Ate Glo for this form of degradation of women daaang, if anything Ate Glo established rules with Filipino embassies to help victimized women.
Now, this trend is lessening, Flip women who come to Japan are mostly caregivers and nurses, thanks to Ate Glo, she has balls, her predecessors, two men and Cory were the ones who were responsible for the entertainer visas numbering 100,000 a year. Ate Glo even visited some of the bars here in Kyoto where our women work and saw firsthand the kind of work these women do. Being a woman, she must have been mortified by what she saw, thus, she pushed for the abolition of such visas to our women.
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This has got to be one of the most idiotic, moronic premises I have ever read. Filipino employers are the worst exploiters of their employees in the world. Wow!!!! What a stupid post!!!!
Outsourcing, contractualization and the specialized international division of labor have given rise to the most egregious abuse, exploitation of labor all over the world and this genius in Florida picks the Pinoy as number one. I recommend for Bong V a career in the fast food industry, coal mines in W. Virginia or picking fruit and vegetables in the U.S.
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/07/14/human-rights-watch-tobacco-farms-under-contract-with-philip-morris-use-child-labor-cheat-and-exploit-workers/
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ChinoF Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 1:44 am
Means that you haven’t worked in the Philippines as I have. Your sources are much too biased and leftist. I recommend for you a career with the Comintern.
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Miriam Quiamco Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 5:43 am
Hey, you are contradicting yourself here, how can a genius ever pursue a career in fastfood, fruit-picking and in the coal mines in W. Virginia. . .
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BongV Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Outsourcing, contractualization and the specialized international division of labor have given rise to the most egregious abuse, exploitation of labor all over the world.
– and of the entire list, FILIPINO employers are among the worst , dumbass
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Considering that US-owned companies give better benefits and higher salaries than most locally owned and operated companies here in the Philippines, your post really shows how blinded you are to leftist propaganda. Which leftist propaganda pamphlet are you reciting?
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I wonder if this is what our local biggie companies (under oligarchs) want: they will keep foreign investments out to prevent being snuffed out here, but they can invest in other countries and keep their own businesses afloat. But because they’re lazy and don’t want to develop good quality, they’ll not do too well in other countries and they’ll retain their poor quality businesses at home that sap the funds of the downtrodden Filipino populace. They’ll just stay happy with the lousiness they already have. They own lots of land (and slaves) anyway.
With the way oligarchs works, they’ll kill their market with high prices and resulting poverty. But with many going abroad for work, the market still has money. Thus, they’re happy with families being separated with members abroad slaving away for money, so when the money is remitted, it gets paid to oligarch services and the poor Filipinos are left to consume stuff that is promoted on Wowowee. And thus, no growth. The Filipino remains as downtrodden as ever.
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BongV Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Exactamente – add it to the collection of
A Tale of Two Countries – Korea and the Philippines
The Myth of “Walang Mahirap Kung Walang Corrupt”
In the News: RP Among Most Restrictive in Foreign Investments (Manila Standard, Jul 8, 2010)
Is the Philippine economy more vulnerable under Noynoy Aquino?
and you’ll get a sense of where this economy is headed
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ChinoF Reply:
July 17th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I wish more people would believe this since this is what’s really happening to the country.
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