Economic crunch affects empowerment of women

CEBU, Philippines – Economic empowerment among women is weakening here because they are the ones most affected by the impact of the current global financial crisis, suffering from underemployment and the first to be fired from their jobs.

This was according to women’s groups that staged a rally yesterday in the downtown area of this city to raise the plight of women laborers, and in celebration of the International Women’s Day.

Around 100 rallyists marched from the Plaza Independecia to Colon St. as a symbolic sacrifice for their advocacies that aim primarily for the welfare of women.

Bisig-Cebu chairwoman Ruth Restauro said that the country remained discriminatory with women in the workplace.

She said that based on surveys, women laborers receive the lowest wage. And when recession strikes, women are the first candidates for termination.

Restauro also said that employers prefer women the least because they ask for more benefits. With lots of women who have been jobless since the global economic meltdown took off, progressive groups suggest that it is time for the government to do away with the Capitalist system of economy.

Restauro pointed out that the Capitalist system only exploits the laborers who are mostly women and profits go only to the few.

“These women who have lost their jobs also lost means to support their families,” she said.

Socialism, an alternative to Capitalism, is what the government should impose because through this, the people will have access to basic services for free which is the people’s right, she said.

As for Emalyn Alviano, president of the Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, the government has failed to give importance to the rights of women and is continually neglecting the current problems of women abuse and domestic violence.

Alviano said that the Visiting Forces Agreement forged a decade ago has “not done any good since it has only stepped on the rights of women and has continuously given difficulties for the country”.

She cited as example the case of US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith who was convicted for raping “Nicole” in Subic, Olongapo City, in 2006.

She said that for Smith to remain under the custody of the US Embassy does not serve any justice for the victim.

Also, the VFA has done damage to the country not only through abuse but through financial expenses that are used for military exercises, Alviano added. —Jessica Ann Pareja and AJ de la Torre/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)