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Blue Collar Workers
Labor is cheap. This is the dominant aspect of the blue collar
workforce here in Manila, a factor that makes itself visible in
other countries similar to the Philippines.
Numerous multinational companies have come to the Philippines to
procure cheap labor and cut production costs. In turn, these firms
churn out goods and services that return good profit from the
market. What's ironic is that the laborers who made these expensive
goods get only small and insignificant salaries. In most cases,
these salaries are so meager that it can't even support a family
and provide them with a decent and comfortable lifestyle. The
result? Poverty.
The sad reality of the matter is that many workers, especially
here in the Philippines and in similar countries, don't get enough or
equal compensation for their time and sweat. In an effort to lower
production costs and make a bigger profit, the salaries of some
laborers are sometimes kept below the minimum wage.
Of course, the workers have the right to the proper
compensation, but with the political situation in the country,
corruption in management and government offices, prevents them from
having a voice in the administration of their welfare. This is
further aggrevated by the fact that most of them are already poor.
They just keep to themselves and continue to suffer in silence
while under the constant cloud of fear that they could lose their
jobs at any time.
Some money hungry companies also tend to abuse their workers by
withholding important benefits such as healthcare, housing, and
insurance. Workers already abused inside inhuman sweatshops are
only human. One time or another, they will collapse. Their muscles
and lungs will fail. In the end, their ill health will cause of
their resignation. They lose the backbone of their livelihood.
They'll eventually lack the money to put food on the table and
clothes on their backs.

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