Maniolas

Philippine Daily Inquirer By: Niña P. Calleja, August 20th, 2015 05:39 AM British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO The British ambassador to the Philippines offered some advice to Philippine lawmakers on how to solve the Bangsamoro problem. For one, show up in Congress and engage in debates on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). British ambassador Asif Ahmad was reacting to news reports that the lack of quorum was impeding the passage of the BBL at the 291-member House of Representatives. “In the United Kingdom, either you agree or oppose something. It is your duty as an elected official to debate and vote. But to hide under a stone is not doing the job that you are elected to do,” Ahmad told reporters during a reception he hosted at his residence on Tuesday night. The House of Representatives is in the process of interpolating the draft BBL, which was based on the peace agreement signed by the Aguino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It proposes establishing a new, autonomous political entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “It is noticeable that many members of Congress are not showing up, which in my view is unacceptable,” Ahmad said. Britain, which has its own experience dealing with separatist movements, had offered the Philippines its advisory assistance in the Mindanao peace process. He cited the processes in the UK that led to the Scotland Independence referendum in 2014.–Niña P. Calleja Latest UK envoy: Lack of Read More …

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau August 20th, 2015 12:37 AM SAN FRANCISCO – Two recent legal victories for California workers send a strong message to employers nationwide: Misclassify your employees, and you will face the consequences. Misclassification is a practice used by some employers to cut costs by declaring their workers to be independent contractors – ducking their obligations to pay at least the minimum wage and overtime pay, and legally required contributions to unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation funds. These employers also fail to remit payroll taxes, resulting in huge losses to state treasuries, and the federal Social Security and Medicare programs. The U.S. Department of Labor, which has made combating worker misclassification a major focus of its enforcement efforts, has announced that federal courts have ruled against two San Francisco Bay Area companies. The courts sided with the companies’ employees after investigations revealed that the companies deliberately misclassified the workers as independent contractors to cheat them out of their wages and other critical workplace benefits. Courier firm to pay $5 million National Consolidated Couriers Inc., based in San Leandro, California, but with clients across the country, has agreed to a court judgment requiring it to pay $5 million in back wages and damages to more than 600 drivers it misclassified as independent contractors, having cheated them out of minimum wage and overtime pay. The judgment reveals that, during the course of the Labor Department’s investigation, the employer tried to destroy records showing an employment relationship with its drivers, and had Read More …

INQUIRER.net U.S. Bureau August 20th, 2015 12:27 AM WATCH VIDEO SACRAMENTO, California – A new video showing the link between human trafficking and wage theft was released by the California Fair Paycheck Coalition and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST). Three workers tell stories of how they were brought to the United States on false pretenses, forced to work seven days a week without pay, mistreated and ultimately escaped with the help of good Samaritans. When each worker went out and found jobs in the “legitimate” economy, they were victimized again—this time by employers who refused to pay them for all of the hours they worked. Just like those who engage in human trafficking, employers who commit wage theft target those who they will believe will be most vulnerable: immigrants, women and people of color. “Silence is bliss for traffickers and abusers,” said one worker, Flor. She described being locked in a factory, escaping, then going to work for an employer who disappeared before payday. “They know how to manipulate the system,” she said. They are going public with their stories to push for passage of SB 588 by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles). The legislation would greatly improve enforcement of California’s wage theft laws by allowing the state to pursue the money with levies and bonds. Currently, most workers who win wage theft claims are never paid. Like us on Facebook Latest DFA responds to columnist on ‘overpriced’ OFW evac ship rental Calif. courts to Read More …