General Info

[GoodEnough]

Another reason that businesses avoid issuing anything but short-term contracts is that the labor code here is absurdly restrictive, and any employee who works for the same employer for more than six months is covered by the code. So the propensity for the issuance of short-term contracts isn't solely the fault of the employer. I keep a copy of the labor code in my office. It's about the size of "War and Peace," complicated and, in parts, self-contradictory and highly ambiguous. The rights provided to full-time employees include: vacation and sick leave, maternity and paternity leave, contributions to the national housing fund, social security, health insurance, a 13th month pay, time and a half pay for work on Saturdays, double pay for work on Sundays and holidays, and more that I don't remember. Also, termination of an employee, for any reason becomes extremely difficult and very easy for an employee to challenge. For an employer, just filing all of the endless paperwork that proves compliance-and the paperwork must be filed twice per month-is onerous. Thus the costs of compliance are high. The fact that the government can capriciously declare national holidays whenever the president decides it would be fun to do so also exacerbate the problem.

It's as if, as with so many other aspects of government systems here, the government designed systems to discourage job creation, much like the permitting and tax compliance systems which seem designed to make it as difficult as possible to incorporate businesses. This is not a fun context in which to operate commercial enterprises.

GE

[Econo Tech]

Look in an SM and they are over. Employed, meaning they employ twice as many people as required, however the Sy's keep them all on short term contracts to prevent any unions forming, and once these girls finish their 5 month jobs they often take a holiday and are slow to re-enter the work force.

27% seems very low to me given the prevailing environment.

Plus the liberal anti discrimination laws in place ensure job description with minimum height, maximum age etc are allowed. LOL.

Anyone above 35 will find it next to impossible to find a job, unless they are really really qualified, . And forget casual jobs once above 40.

Half the country is unemployed. Says me.

So many unemployed the daily TV shows like showtime, wowowee, Gandang gabi vice have long lines of people waiting to spend a day cheering the silly talk shows. And occasionally get to see senators or congressman there.

The oligarchy running the country will make sure Philippines is like this for the next 100 years. So the rich can thrive.

Poor folks are only allowed to run sari sari shops or coffee machine business, food cart business or load business and nothing more threatening and all is well in the meantime.

PS, last month a guy didn't allow my taxi to leave unless the fellow got booking fee. I gave him 5 peso just to spite him and damn happy he was. A local friend of mine quipped that my 5 peso means in govt statistics the fellow has become employed.

[FreebieFan]

The definition of unemployment, much like literacy, is stipulated by the government. I believe that here, anyone who might a sold a mango on the street last week is counted as employed. The fact is, no one knows the true unemployment rate here, but with about 1. 9 new citizens being born every year, and maybe a million new job seekers a year, coupled with an economy that cannot begin to create enough jobs, and a third of the population living on less than $2 a day, my guess is that's its way over the 27% figure that "shocked" these senators. .

GE

Totally agree GE. Drive through any barangay anywhere in the country, and the local lads, the ones who should be employed, are there sitting on the street, playing a desultory game of hoops or home made pool. They are bored, listless and totally jobless. The employable girl just hang around the sari sari stores or do endless " housework".

However go through the special economic zones and there are many 1, 000s of filipinos gainfully and fuly employed.

Look in an SM and they are over.employed, meaning they employ twice as many people as required, however the Sy's keep them all on short term contracts to prevent any unions forming, and once these girls finish their 5 month jobs they often take a holiday and are slow to re-enter the work force.

27% seems very low to me given the prevailing environment.

[Cbea20]

I was recently in an immigration office for a routine renewal. Next to me a man was asking on behalf of a friend what costs the overstaying friend would be assessed. He was getting good and detailed answers. So I suggest that you likewise visit immigration on behalf of your friend. It's no big deal if you have a few thousand pesos for the fees.

My American friend of 50 years from the same small city as me has overstayed his visa. Fortunately the dumb ass extended his ticket and he's due to leave a week from tomorrow. He paid for the day visa extension in USA but will be overstaying for 29-30 days depending on how one calculates. In any event, he's broke, sleeping in my guest room and needs my help to get properly processed out by Immigration. I know the ACR fee and other attendant fees have to be paid and I'm going to have to front that money. What kind of penalty must be paid?

[Wicked Roger]

The definition of unemployment, much like literacy, is stipulated by the government. I believe that here, anyone who might a sold a mango on the street last week is counted as employed. The fact is, no one knows the true unemployment rate here, but with about 1. 9 new citizens being born every year, and maybe a million new job seekers a year, coupled with an economy that cannot begin to create enough jobs, and a third of the population living on less than $2 a day, my guess is that's its way over the 27% figure that "shocked" these senators. It's the same with literacy. The government brags that 97. 5% of the populations is literate. But if literacy is defined more stringently than the ability to write one's name, it's difficult to see how this could be true, given school drop out rates and the wretched quality of education.

GE

Good points GE and yet the newspapers will boast about the Philippines being the Asian 'tiger' economy as its GDP is showing high growth (someone else commented on his a while back). I think it was RK who did an FR on the population growth outstripping the bare essentials to survive (ie the growth is so great the Philippines has no way to sustain the population) and still the RH bill remains 'stalled'

Shame your comments will not be read by the senators as I was surprised they were shocked (but maybe living in a glass bubble for so long means they can't see reality). What you said are the main issues so why debate it just find ways to create more jobs etc, improve the standards, but then by doing that the indians may get restless?

[GoodEnough]

Interesting piece on unemployment. See the last paragraph for what will likely be the main reasons that a committee will say are the overwhelming causes. Nothing to do with inability to create jobs. Lack of investment etc.

I just found this amusing as I thought I could answer the question on a post, others may have a different view of course.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/20...mployment-rate

The definition of unemployment, much like literacy, is stipulated by the government. I believe that here, anyone who might a sold a mango on the street last week is counted as employed. The fact is, no one knows the true unemployment rate here, but with about 1. 9 new citizens being born every year, and maybe a million new job seekers a year, coupled with an economy that cannot begin to create enough jobs, and a third of the population living on less than $2 a day, my guess is that's its way over the 27% figure that "shocked" these senators. It's the same with literacy. The government brags that 97. 5% of the populations is literate. But if literacy is defined more stringently than the ability to write one's name, it's difficult to see how this could be true, given school drop out rates and the wretched quality of education.

GE

[Streetlooker]

My American friend of 50 years from the same small city as me has overstayed his visa. Fortunately the dumb ass extended his ticket and he's due to leave a week from tomorrow. He paid for the day visa extension in USA but will be overstaying for 29-30 days depending on how one calculates. In any event, he's broke, sleeping in my guest room and needs my help to get properly processed out by Immigration. I know the ACR fee and other attendant fees have to be paid and I'm going to have to front that money. What kind of penalty must be paid?

Being that I have often questioned my own ability to cope with life's problems and confidence that I am doing things right. Its refreshing to me that people like your friend exist in this world (More then we think) and I can feel pretty good about myself that I would never find myself in this guys situation. Overstaying my visa worry is in my top 2-5 worries when I finally make my move to live in the PHILIPPINES. Trust me I will NOT OVERSTAY or have improper paper work to worry about. Thanks for the boost. Now If I could just get my financial situation stable and I be living in paradise with the hot brown honeys

[GregLondon]

A British friend of mine is hoping to meet a Filipina chat mate of his in Tokyo where he wil have a business trip later this summer.

Does anyone have experience of getting Filipinas a Japanese tourist visa. The trip will be just 4 days. He does not have time to meet her in Phils first. She doesn't have a passport right now is in early 20s without a real job or degree etc. Therefore the passport will be brand new. He is prepared to put some money in her bank account if necessary. I know the girl in question and believe she can be trusted to refund the money and actually buy the ticket (which I know is the normal problem here!).

So questions are:

1. Does she have to go through an Agency? Anyone got an agency in Cebu they have found good?

2. Does she have a real chance to get a visa?

3. How much will she have to show is in her bank account? Will they be looking for a statement over a period of time. (She just opened the account last week and so far almost nothing in it).

4. Will he have to provide a letter of guarantee etc and if so what format does it have to be notarised?

5. Does she have to book the return air ticket in advance or wait till after she has the visa?

6. How long does visa process take?

7. Does she have to boo accommodation in advance? In reality she will stay in his busienss hotel but I think he wants to keep his business engagements separate.

Thanks in advance fro any information you might have.

[Wicked Roger]

Interesting piece on unemployment. See the last paragraph for what will likely be the main reasons that a committee will say are the overwhelming causes. Nothing to do with inability to create jobs. Lack of investment etc.

I just found this amusing as I thought I could answer the question on a post, others may have a different view of course.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/20...mployment-rate

[Mogwai]

What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach.

Indeed, that's exactly the point.

[Socker]

All I was trying to say is that it's not really a secret that many guys are barebacking and that a lot of them never (or hardly ever) catch any STDs. Even if hundreds of guys are going to "brag" here that it's safe to do then this won't change the mind of the guys that use condoms. Simply because they are afraid and really convinced that condoms are a must.

Who said anything about secrets? Do you need to twist the dialogue to feel like a winner?

I know you're wrong and one day there will be hell to pay for this kind of casual boasting on sites like ISG. I also know (from your response here) it is especially important TO YOU to spread this great knowledge you have about the safety of bbing. However I think your logic is flawed and you have a flawed view of human nature too.

On this issue 99% of the guys (who do it) know what can happen if a breakout occurs, that's why few boast about their success rates. What's to gain from boasting??? Nothing!

A couple of guys were clueless and maybe now understand there is NOTHING TO GAIN by spouting off your great stats on bbing.

Mogwai, you have gained nothing w / your POV, you only cause more concern. For me this discussion is over.

What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach.

Strother Martin

[Mogwai]

Lots of guys do it and lots of guys are afraid / cautious to do it.

My post says lets leave the status quo as it is, shut up.

If all the guys that bb bragged about it and how safe it is to do.

Then a lot of the guys who cover up (now) would stop using condoms.

This is my logic after a fair amount of living. What does your logic tell you?

I'm naive?

All I was trying to say is that it's not really a secret that many guys are barebacking and that a lot of them never (or hardly ever) catch any STDs. Even if hundreds of guys are going to "brag" here that it's safe to do then this won't change the mind of the guys that use condoms. Simply because they are afraid and really convinced that condoms are a must.

[FreebieFan]

That's really sad man. Allot of times that kind of thing starts with the HPV. I don't recall the numbers without looking it up, but a large percentage of females will get it at some point in their life. It don't even have to be from sex. It terrifies the girl at the thought of a pre-cancer growing. In the States the first step is just watch and wait. Get a pap every 6 months. My chick had it once but she just went on a pretty heavy antioxidant program. It went away fast and never came back. But of course that kind of thing is not available to the average Pinay in a country where no one has ever heard of quercetin, and a single vitamin C tablet is 6 pesos. Same goes for protecting ones self from the start, the stronger your immune system is to begin with, the more likely you can be exposed but never contract. Just like everyone at work may get the flu except you if you're more healthy.

Had a gf who was advised that she was diagnosed with HPV. We did some research and it was a huge figure, something like 30-40% of ladies will have it at some time. There are many strains but only two are pre-cancerous, strains number 16 and 17, or something similar. Seems that millions of us men carry this virus with us, displaying no symptons or anything that relates to it.

[FreebieFan]

After you were vaccinated did you get tested to see if you were immune? Your initial vaccine may not have resulted in you being immune. Many people get vaccinated for Hep B, but don't get tested to see if it resulted in them being immune. When I got vaccinated for Hep B, my employer paid for it and also paid for me to be tested to see if it resulted in me being immune. I also know that it may not last forever even though they say it should.

One year after the vaccination, in another blood test, it showed up as being present. After that I had no reason to test it again till recently, which was 10 years later. When it basically showed there was reduced immunity.

[Hobbyist2]

I thought I was vaccinated against B for life, but recently went and had a check. They run a test to determine strength of the original and that 10 years after the initial series of shots, that I needed a set of booster shots to increase immunity levels to full strength. Seems from the comments in the attached quote this is quite common. Life inst always for life.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...6101958AApCAWv

After you were vaccinated did you get tested to see if you were immune? Your initial vaccine may not have resulted in you being immune. Many people get vaccinated for Hep B, but don't get tested to see if it resulted in them being immune. When I got vaccinated for Hep B, my employer paid for it and also paid for me to be tested to see if it resulted in me being immune. I also know that it may not last forever even though they say it should.