Struggles of Young Contractual Workers

When you are 25 years old and does not have a secure job, you are always afraid. You scramble where to apply for a new job after 5 months. You worry if any company will accept you because you compete with more and more younger workers every time. You feel insecure that your skills are not enough and your hands not fast enough for the prospective jobs. You are always afraid that tomorrow, there might be no more work to go back to.

These are the common sentiments of Brian Geronimo and Mark Taburnal, while sharing their stories to us at CTUHR.

Mark shared his first experience working.

I started working at a bakery when I was 17 and I earned Php200 per day. I think it was 2015.” I immediately quipped that it was considered child labor and that the minimum wage for eight hours in NCR then, was Php481. 

I don’t know what child labor is then. I was out of school. We lack the finances to support my schooling. I saw my Mother and Father quarrel often because the salary of my Father was not enough. So I volunteered to stop schooling and joined my Father in Manila. I came from Cebu where salaries are lower than in Manila. My father is a welder and I am the eldest among six (6) children. 

My stint at the bakery was short-lived. Before I even turned 18, I have experienced working in different places. Sometimes, I work alongside my father. The highest pay I received was Php350/day. 

When I turned 18, I looked for factories where I can apply. I submitted my requirements in various companies. I remember the first factory I worked with was a snack (junk food) manufacturing company in Valenzuela. I worked as a machine operator and I was only paid Php350 ($7.00) for twelve (12) hours of work per day. I directly applied at the factory but when I started working, all of us were enlisted in a manpower agency.   They told me it was normal. At the orientation for new workers, the supervisor told us not to join any group. I didn’t understand what they meant during the time. All I was thinking was the need to work. I completed my contract and looked for my next job. 

Looking for a job was no easy feat, even though I have friends in other companies. It was difficult and costly.  I braved the heat of the sun. 

Suddenly Mark’s face was grief stricken.  

I am 25 now and jobless. It’s difficult to apply now because companies require a negative COVID RT-PCR result even if I am vaccinated. I can’t afford that on top of the other requirements. 

I asked if he has his own family and he timidly said no, then laughed. The idea of raising a family seemed impossible to him at the moment. 

Prices of commodities are high. I don’t have a stable job. I still support my parents and siblings. I barely have enough to provide for myself. I couldn’t save. 

He bitterly laughed at his own situation. I then asked about the last work he had. 

I have worked in more than six (6) factories. The last factory where I worked at is close to Novaliches. I did not sign a new contract after the last one ended. I was paid the minimum wage unlike my previous companies. However, the work was very difficult. I work for 12 hours and only have a 30-minute lunch break. I was not enough because the canteen was very far. Walking to the canteen already takes 15 minutes. 

If you want to use the toilet, you need to ask permission from the supervisor, sign a slip, give it to the guard then have the guard sign it on your way back. No signature, no toilet time. If anyone complains, they are dismissed immediately. I suffered from stomach ache while working there. Even if they give us Php481 in 12 hours, 

In the packaging department, almost all workers were students, much younger and work faster. We are prohibited from speaking with them. I don’t know how much they are paid. 

I got acquainted with the Young Christian Workers (YCW) in ____. The first time I joined them, I didn’t understand what they were talking about. But slowly, I was able to relate to their discussions and sharing of experiences. After endlessly jumping from one job to another, I realized that the working conditions were the same, sometimes even worse than the last one. Low salaries, lack of benefits and other challenges were the same. I began to worry about not landing a new job because more younger people are out there. 

Your stories, I’ve been there. The factories you worked in were the same factories I worked before. 

Brian jumped in the discussion. His expression was sad. 

I have worked in 10 factories before I realized that they exploited my body, my full physical strength, my youth. I feel sad for the young workers today, as they face the same plight. 

Brian, current President of YCW, is only 34 years old. His work experiences and struggles while jumping from one job to another – applying under scorching heat, countless brown envelopes with requirements – forced him to think more maturely. 

I still don’t have money now, same when I was working in factories. But now I can say that I was able to reclaim my dignity as a human being. I chose to work as a full-time organizer, conscientizing my fellow young workers to make them aware of their rights and empower them. I realized the value of my physical strength, my humanity. 

Now I know my rights as a worker, as youth. There is no law prohibiting anyone from joining or forming an organization or union. 

I asked if they have expectation/s in May 2022 national elections. These are some of their thoughts:

Candidates should have deep concern for workers. Candidates should work to stop the system of contractualization. Contractual workers are always afraid to lose their jobs. Many grow old as contractuals. 

Wages should be the same in Metro Manila and the provinces, after all, the prices of goods and gas are the same. 

We need to be critical in choosing among the candidates. Are they against contractualization? Do they favor increasing wages of workers at the national level? They should not badmouth groups or unions that serve workers. We are looking for candidates that will return the dignity in work, the dignity to us workers. 

I said goodbye and thanks. Their words reverberate in my brain. What if the youth is no longer young?

These are the common sentiments of Brian Geronimo and Mark Taburnal, while sharing their stories to us at CTUHR.

Mark shared his first experience working.

I started working at a bakery when I was 17 and I earned Php200 per day. I think it was 2015.” I immediately quipped that it was considered child labor and that the minimum wage for eight hours in NCR then, was Php481. 

I don’t know what child labor is then. I was out of school. We lack the finances to support my schooling. I saw my Mother and Father quarrel often because the salary of my Father was not enough. So I volunteered to stop schooling and joined my Father in Manila. I came from Cebu where salaries are lower than in Manila. My father is a welder and I am the eldest among six (6) children. 

My stint at the bakery was short-lived. Before I even turned 18, I have experienced working in different places. Sometimes, I work alongside my father. The highest pay I received was Php350/day. 

When I turned 18, I looked for factories where I can apply. I submitted my requirements in various companies. I remember the first factory I worked with was a snack (junk food) manufacturing company in Valenzuela. I worked as a machine operator and I was only paid Php350 ($7.00) for twelve (12) hours of work per day. I directly applied at the factory but when I started working, all of us were enlisted in a manpower agency.   They told me it was normal. At the orientation for new workers, the supervisor told us not to join any group. I didn’t understand what they meant during the time. All I was thinking was the need to work. I completed my contract and looked for my next job. 

Looking for a job was no easy feat, even though I have friends in other companies. It was difficult and costly.  I braved the heat of the sun. 

Suddenly Mark’s face was grief stricken.  

I am 25 now and jobless. It’s difficult to apply now because companies require a negative COVID RT-PCR result even if I am vaccinated. I can’t afford that on top of the other requirements. 

I asked if he has his own family and he timidly said no, then laughed. The idea of raising a family seemed impossible to him at the moment. 

Prices of commodities are high. I don’t have a stable job. I still support my parents and siblings. I barely have enough to provide for myself. I couldn’t save. 

He bitterly laughed at his own situation. I then asked about the last work he had. 

I have worked in more than six (6) factories. The last factory where I worked at is close to Novaliches. I did not sign a new contract after the last one ended. I was paid the minimum wage unlike my previous companies. However, the work was very difficult. I work for 12 hours and only have a 30-minute lunch break. I was not enough because the canteen was very far. Walking to the canteen already takes 15 minutes. 

If you want to use the toilet, you need to ask permission from the supervisor, sign a slip, give it to the guard then have the guard sign it on your way back. No signature, no toilet time. If anyone complains, they are dismissed immediately. I suffered from stomach ache while working there. Even if they give us Php481 in 12 hours, 

In the packaging department, almost all workers were students, much younger and work faster. We are prohibited from speaking with them. I don’t know how much they are paid. 

I got acquainted with the Young Christian Workers (YCW) in ____. The first time I joined them, I didn’t understand what they were talking about. But slowly, I was able to relate to their discussions and sharing of experiences. After endlessly jumping from one job to another, I realized that the working conditions were the same, sometimes even worse than the last one. Low salaries, lack of benefits and other challenges were the same. I began to worry about not landing a new job because more younger people are out there. 

Your stories, I’ve been there. The factories you worked in were the same factories I worked before. 

Brian jumped in the discussion. His expression was sad. 

I have worked in 10 factories before I realized that they exploited my body, my full physical strength, my youth. I feel sad for the young workers today, as they face the same plight. 

Brian, current President of YCW, is only 34 years old. His work experiences and struggles while jumping from one job to another – applying under scorching heat, countless brown envelopes with requirements – forced him to think more maturely. 

I still don’t have money now, same when I was working in factories. But now I can say that I was able to reclaim my dignity as a human being. I chose to work as a full-time organizer, conscientizing my fellow young workers to make them aware of their rights and empower them. I realized the value of my physical strength, my humanity. 

Now I know my rights as a worker, as youth. There is no law prohibiting anyone from joining or forming an organization or union. 

I asked if they have expectation/s in May 2022 national elections. These are some of their thoughts:

Candidates should have deep concern for workers. Candidates should work to stop the system of contractualization. Contractual workers are always afraid to lose their jobs. Many grow old as contractuals. 

Wages should be the same in Metro Manila and the provinces, after all, the prices of goods and gas are the same. 

We need to be critical in choosing among the candidates. Are they against contractualization? Do they favor increasing wages of workers at the national level? They should not badmouth groups or unions that serve workers. We are looking for candidates that will return the dignity in work, the dignity to us workers. 

I said goodbye and thanks. Their words reverberate in my brain. What if the youth is no longer young?