PHL told to create green jobs after joblessness worsens

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES should create more green jobs and modernize agriculture as joblessness worsened in October, with the farm sector hit hard by climate-related disasters.

Benjamin B. Velasco, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman School of Labor and Industrial Relations, cited the need to promote and incentivize green jobs to mitigate job losses from climate-induced disasters, which underpinned  the rise in unemployment in October.

He said green jobs could be created through reforestation and beach and river cleanups. However, he noted that the private sector has not taken significant action in this area, noting that public employment programs are the most viable solution.

“Green jobs must be good and just. That is, they should pay well, with safe working conditions and preferably a voice through a union,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat at the weekend.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday said the jobless rate quickened to 3.9% in October due to typhoons.  This was higher than 3.7% in September, but lower than 4.2% in October 2023.

This translated to 1.97 million unemployed Filipinos in October, an increase from 1.89 million in September, but a decrease from 2.09 million a year ago.

Three consecutive typhoons affected labor force participation in October, PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa told a news briefing.

The fishing and aquaculture sub-sector lost the most workers in October at 213,000.

It was followed by wholesale and retail trade, which lost 212,000 workers, and  agriculture and forestry which lost 183,000 workers, and manufacturing, which was down by 123,000.

“We need labor policies that mandate climate adaptation like heat breaks and climate leaves for workers,” Mr. Velasco said. “Unions and employers should also integrate these climate provisions in collective bargaining agreements.”

The UP academic added modernizing agriculture is imperative to sustain calamities like typhoons.

Micro, small and medium enterprises also need support as retail jobs suffered a blow due to the typhoons in October.

“Jobs in agriculture and retail should have better pay with benefits and social protection,” he added.

Green jobs include helping to protect ecosystems and biodiversity, reduce energy and water consumption, decarbonize the economy and minimize waste and pollution.

“Green jobs are decent jobs that are productive, respect the rights of workers, deliver a fair income, provide security in the workplace and social protection for families, and promote social dialogue,” according to the Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016.

“Green jobs are decent jobs that are productive, respect the rights of workers, deliver a fair income, provide security in the workplace and social protection for families, and promote social dialogue,” it added.

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino National President Renecio “Luke” S. Espiritu said the job losses in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors reflect the country’s “backward economy.”

Successive administrations, including the Marcos government, have failed to promote industrialization, he told BusinessWorld in a Viber chat.

He noted if this continues, industrialization and meaningful job creation would remain out of reach, leading to economic stagnation.

Job quality worsened as the underemployment rate reached 12.6% in October, higher than 11.9% a month before and 11.7% a year prior.

This means 6.08 million Filipinos wanted longer work hours or more jobs in October, compared with 5.94 million a month earlier and 5.6 million a year ago.

The underemployment rate averaged 12.1% in the 10 months to October, down from 12.5% a year earlier.

Mr. Velasco said retail output was affected by class and work suspensions amid typhoons and floods.

“As a result, work shifts from full-time to part-time, or jobs are lost entirely. Aggravating this is that jobs in agriculture and retail are low quality, so workers leave when they find better opportunities,” he added.

The average Filipino employee worked 41 hours each week, higher than 40.3 hours in September but down from 41.2 hours a year ago.