The Forbes Asia Magazine reported
that the 40 richest Filipinos in 2012 increased their wealth by US $13 billion
in the last 12 months, or a very impressive gain of more than one billion US
dollars every month. The combined wealth of these taipans, moguls, tycoons and
magnates have reached an unprecedented US$ 47.4 billion. There are now 15 US dollar billionaires in
our country. By all appearances, and by all standards, that was indeed an
impressive achievement. It would appear then that these highly successful
business barons have made a killing out of the remittance-driven Philippine
economy, which, in the last twelve months outperformed most Asian countries in
terms of economic growth.
Such outstanding economic
performance of this labor-excess economy was driven not by gross domestic
products or by extraordinary financial acumen of our economic managers but by
the sheer industry, hard work and sacrifices of 12 million Filipinos who work
in 200 countries all over the world. These modern-day living heroes faithfully
remit no less than US$20 billion every year. It is their money that are used to
buy goods from the malls and supermarts of the 40 richest men, to construct
houses that keep alive the country’s construction industry and keep the banks
and financial intermediaries alive and highly active.
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| Henry Sy |
The richest man in the
Philippines and number 116 among the world’s wealthiest is Henry Sy, the man
who wishes to put up a Shoe Mart in every town, city, and province and a
Hypermart in every nook and cranny of
this nation of 100 million people, transforming ricefields into malls and
uprooting trees and overhauling the environment, causing traffic problems and controlling the spaces for branded
products. In the last 12 months, Sy increased his wealth from 7.2 to 9.1
billion or a whopping 1.9 billion in 12 months. That is a performance that
deserves our respect and recognition. But the question is: Is Mr. Sy a good
employer? We are not going to prejudge
him. There is a process to generate the truth. He enjoys the presumption of
regularity.
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| Lucio Tan |
Next is Lucio Tan, tobacco
magnate, liquor tycoon, owner of both Allied Bank and Philippine National Bank.
He sold 49% of PAL to San Miguel Corporation. His profile as an employer is
quite colorful. He wins his cases left and right. He has the best of lawyers.
Like Mr. Sy and the other taipans, Mr. Tan is close to the powers that be.
Well, there is nothing wrong with that. That is plain good public relations.
But then again, how is Mr. Tan as an employer? We are not competent to pass
judgment on him on this. His employees are the best witnesses and the terms and
conditions of their employment are the
best evidence by which to determine how he fares along this line.
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| Enrique Razon |
Mr. Enrique Razon of the
container terminal business increased his wealth from US$1.6 billion to US$3.6
billion in 12 months. Since the container business is labor-intensive, how did
this tycoon pay his workers in the piers? John Gokongwei has a net worth of US$
3.2 billion, David Consunji of that giant construction firm has US$2.3 billion.
Ayala has US$2.28 billion and Danding Cojuangco US$1.48 billion. How do these
moguls take care of their workers? Are they mindful of their wages and labor
standards? How about the workers’ job security, and their basic rights as human
beings and as workers? Do these employers mind their workers’ health, safety
and welfare? We are not accusing. Just asking.
Are the sales girls in the malls
enjoying job security? How about the
construction workers and the laborers in the port areas? Are they allowed to
exercise their right to self-organization, collective bargaining and peaceful
concerted activity for redress of legitimate grievances? In case of sickness,
disability and death, what safety nets are covering their families? Do the
billionaire employers help them cope with the rising cost of living, with the
high cost of medical care and education, and housing? We know that San Miguel
and PAL employees are enjoying very good benefits. How about the workers of the
other billionaires? We honestly don’t know.
It is not for this column to
judge. It is not a crime to be extremely wealthy. As to whether they are good
employers, their workers are the most competent witness to testify on that. And
the truth is there for all of us to discover. The Forbes Asia Magazine should
look at these tycoons not just as businessmen but as employers and their firms
as corporate citizens. By then, we shall have discovered who they really are.
(Bug-os ang pasalamat sa KAHAYAG ngadto sa nagsulat sa artikulo nga si ATTY. JOSEPHUS B. JIMENEZ. Usa siya ka kanhi Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary, kanhi Vice President, PEPSI COLA PHILIPPINES, kanhi Director for Labor Relations, SAN MIGUEL CORP., kanhi Personnel Director, PETRON ug PNOC, magtutudlo sa kurso sa abogasya sa mga dagkong tunghaan sa Manila sama sa UST, FEU, UE, SAN SEBASTIAN, kanhi Labor Attache ngadto sa mga nasod sa Malaysia, Kuwait ug Taiwan, magsusulat sa nagkadaiyang libro sa mga nagtuon sa kurso pagka abogado. Nagikan siya sa pamilya nga taga Ronda, Dumanjug ug Argao sa lalawigan sa Sugbo. Malamposon kaayo siya sa pagkab-ot sa iyang damgo ug tinguha, ug karon magtampohan sa peryodikong The Freeman isip magsusulat ug artikulo matag semana. Siya ang tigtukod sa grupo sa mga magsusulat nga magtatampo sa grupong LAB-OK kon LUNSAY NGA AMBAHAN SA MGA BISAYA SA FACEBOOK. Napatik na kining maong artikulo sa pamantalaan, The Freeman, kaniadtong Hulyo 1, 2012).
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