Difficult times ahead for workers in ‘new normal’

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – A labor leader here said workers will have a difficult time in the “new normal” amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Wennie Sancho, secretary -general of the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) said most people made a sigh of relief after the lifting of some restrictions and gradual re-opening of the economy.

But for the workers, especially the members of GAWA, Sancho said “this is merely a respite from all the mental stress and anxiety during the lockdown as more economic sacrifices are yet to come under the new normal.”

Sancho told Daily Guardian here Tuesday that many workers have found themselves in dire financial strait after being laid-off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Majority of the small businesses are reluctant to open as they are not sure if they’ll be able to sustain their business if they will operate on a 50% capacity as they would be hanging on a thin thread and they are still suffering from economic coma.”

Among the major challenges confronting the labor sector is the workers’ security of tenure, Sancho said.

“There is no assurance from management that there is continuity of employment if management could hardly sustain their business under economic recession. They would be compelled to reduce their manpower to prevent losses.”

He said there will be a spike in unemployment and underemployment as workers will be forced to accept any kind of work in order to earn.

“Workers will have no choice but to accept the ‘reduced offer’ laid on the table by management on a take-it or leave it policy.”

He said that workers no longer want to repeat the traumatic experience they had under the no-work-no-pay situation.

Sancho said trade unions will be suffering a temporary setback as renewal or renegotiation of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will be put on hold by management due to pandemic.

In case of labor dispute any notice of strikes will be dismissed by the NCMB, he added.

“It is unfortunate that that the workers have to endure the economic pain from lockdown to the new normal,” Sancho lamented.