FPI urges gov’t to focus on labor intensive mfg

MANILA, Philippines - The government will have to focus on labor-intensive manufacturing sub-sectors to help the country achieve on inclusive economic growth, the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said.

“If we want inclusive growth, we need to focus on areas with the greatest impact to employment, and that is in the labor-intensive manufacturing sub-sectors,” FPI industry policy committee director Roberto Batungbacal said, in an email.

Citing data from the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics and National Statistics Office Batungbacal said the food and beverage manufacturing sub-sector was the biggest employer from 2002 to 2012.

As of 2012, the food and beverage manufacturing sub-sector employed more than 800,000 individuals.

The wearing apparel manufacturing sub-sector came in second with more than 400,000 employees, while the manufacture of wood products sub-sector placed third with more than 300,000 workers.

The manufacture of radio television and communication equipment (electronics and semiconductors) sub-sector and textile industry placed fourth and fifth with 300,000 employees and 150,000 workers, respectively.

An industry road map for these sub-sectors, Batungbacal noted, has yet to be seen.

“In my opinion, inclusive growth means that economic growth reaches all sectors and their constituents, not just the leading ones.

Inclusive growth means decent jobs for the great majority, it means jobs for the less educated, with fewer resources and fewer choices,” he said.

He noted that the manufacturing sector has the highest potential to provide long-term inclusive employment to a country with persistently high unemployment and underemployment.

The government is aiming to revive the manufacturing sector to promote economic growth and create jobs.