We know that almost all countries in the world are affected with the present global economic crisis. Everyday, thousands of people get laid off and lose their jobs. Even big companies like Intel and Nike has to cut down on their labor force. Car manufacturers General Motors and Nissan declared millions of losses, too. In the Philippines alone, thousands of Filipinos working abroad have started going back to the country as they have lost their jobs overseas. And yet for now, the government is still claiming that the Philippines will not be affected by this present crisis — at least not as worse as other countries.

I am sure there are some people who will even do anything just to keep their job and have decent incomes to feed his or her family. But hopefully companies or company owners will also do their share to provide their employees protection and safety. Not because many people need a job but also to provide what is really due to them.

I am sure there are a lot of laws in the country written for the protection and welfare of the workers, but are they really applied? As I am on the road every day, I am able to pass by a building construction site where I saw a worker working in a height of more than ten floor and yet there is no safety equipment in place at the side. It was only covered by a net without any safety harness attached to his body. He could possibly fall and die by doing his job. I also talked to someone who performed multi-task job. He is a security guard, plumber, property custodian, electrician and utility supervisor in one. Yet he earns below minimum wage.

I hope and pray that the government will do its job in preserving the protection and safety of this ordinary people as much as it does protect the business interest of the company owner.