'Rise in unemployment due to flood control mess'

Workers are now feeling the economic impact of the flood control mess, as indicated by the alarming increase in unemployment and underemployment, labor group Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa announced.

- By MAYEN ALQUITRAN

SENTRO secretary general Josua Mata noted that the country posted growth in unemployment when the economy should already be expanding ahead of the Christmas season.

Mata said the five percent increase in unemployment signaled "distress," with many of the available jobs being contractual, precarious and of low quality.

"We are now on track to surpass last year's under-utilization rate, a clear sign that the economy is slipping, not recovering," he pointed out.

Mata said young people are among the hardest hit by joblessness.

He further noted that the downturn in manufacturing is clearly linked to the economic slowdown triggered by the flood control mess.