By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — In a press conference on the observance of Labor Day with jobs and livelihood fairs, Regional Director of the Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOLE-CAR) Henry John S. Jalbuena said that they noted the high percentage of under-employement in the region.

According to Jalbuena, there are two kinds of underemployed. He said those who are working for 40 hours a week but still looking for additional sources of income and the other are those who are working less than 40 hours a week or eight hours a day. He explained that these underemployed seek additional financial resources aside from their current employment.

Jalbuena said that of the 793 thousand labor force in the Cordillera region, 755 thousand are employed, 38 thousand are unemployed and 140 are underemployed. Meanwhile, in the city of Baguio, Jalbuena said that there is a 92 percent employment rate and eight percent unemployment rate. He explained that the labor force is composed of people who are able to work, ages from 15 and above.

The regional director said that their agency is focusing on underemployment. Jalbuena said that one way for the Dole to address the problem is through conducting Community Entrepreneurship Development trainings where workers as well as unemployed people are given the chance to be trained in entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, Anakpawis Cordillera spokesperson Michael Cabangon said that many workers tend to look for additional source of income as their present wages are not enough for their daily needs. He added that aside from receiving low wage, the workers in the region just like the rest of the Filipino workers are suffering from lack of benefits and unfair labor practices.

Cabangon said that workers because of lack of employment that caters eight hours of work a day were forced to enter jobs that are less than eight hours. He also said that there are many workers that are accepting per piece jobs. # nordis.net