Bittersweet Indulgence: UNWRAPPING THE TOXIC LABOR CULTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES

|| Niñalyn Marcial & RV Balbuena

Landing your dream job is one of the most delightful moments of life. Yet, are all expectations met with the embittered reality?

In our country, working hard is not enough for an individual to earn the salary they deserve. The journey of how the workers experience the different flavors of the work environment is supposed to be smooth, but the road ahead is as rocky as the system they are forced to belong in.

No matter how strikingly sweet and enticing the molded opportunities are in this country, the toxic labor culture always leaves a bitter aftertaste of reality.

Golden Ticket

Every golden opportunity requires a golden ticket. Ordinary tickets are typically distributed equally, following the longstanding norm, while the illfated folks might, with luck, receive a golden ticket through connections from someone inside.

The Padrino System, or “Palakasan System,” pervasive in the country’s workforce, grants favors and promotions regardless of inferior qualifications.

In 2016, Duterte’s Administration’s decision to hire retired military officers and locals from Davao faced criticism for its unsatisfactory outcome. This system’s negative effects extend beyond politics to impact local and international businesses in the Philippines, as seen in the 1,109,684 active enterprises recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2022. Despite the demand for qualified manpower, many companies neglect proper oversight of their HR departments, resulting in power plays and unfair practices.

Nexford University’s research highlights the Philippines’ BPO industry’s rapid growth, employing 1.3 million Filipinos and contributing nearly $30 billion annually. The sector’s high demand mandates a rigorous hiring process, incorporating communication skills assessments, voice and non-voice tests, operations, and client interviews to mitigate Padrino system influence and ensure applicant competence. “In the BPO industry, you have to pass every interview and assessment, so it is impossible to have a backer,” May, an interviewee, observed that individuals seeking backers are often motivated by convenience. She noted that In a workplace with a prevalent backer culture, she will be confident in navigating through due processes, undeterred and aware of her contributions.

Golden tickets are indeed the ultimate pass that privileged folks can use to progress a step higher in the hierarchy of society. As for the herd of people at the end of the line, they might not get the recognition or treatment they deserve while holding on to their ordinary tickets.

Chocolate Coins

Yearning for a fulfilling job with a substantial salary to support a satisfying lifestyle, not everyone is fortunate enough to secure such positions. Instead, some earn meager amounts, akin to a chocolate coin, covering basic needs with little satisfaction

Mismatching of jobs from the degree one got from their college is common in the country. Contrary to a brain drain scenario, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) reports that 40% of employed workers are overqualified for their jobs. Moreover, the country faces a surplus of qualified individuals compared to the limited job opportunities, reflecting its stringent standards for aspiring employees.

Many choose to work as call center agents or freelancers in

BPO companies, deviating from their college studies, as this industry often doesn’t require a degree or advanced skills, providing a more accessible path for applicants. Jobseekers often accept roles requiring fewer skills than their training, not due to incompetence but driven by salary aspirations or a desire for career advancement in fields with limited demand for their college courses. Marie, a 59-year-old store owner, exemplifies this trend, explaining, “I chose this career path to earn money and spend time with my family,” highlighting a broader issue of career misalignment among degree holders in the country.

Chocolate coins, though a sweet price, fail to satiate an empty stomach, regardless of the effort and allure of earning them. Unfortunately, people settle for these meager rewards when they strive for the satisfaction of an entire chocolate

MILKY and DARK Flavors

In every chocolate box, you never know what type of flavor you are going to get. Every chocolate is wrapped in various eye-catching wrappers, but what you get inside remains the same. So why do the ones covered in white have more chances of being a favored flavor?

White-collar jobs, typically associated with offices and top organizational positions, involve overseeing a company’s functions, while blue-collar jobs are stereotypically seen as physically demanding or walk-in-the-park jobs with meager daily wages. Despite the common perception, as noted by Investopedia (2023), that blue-collar workers lack earning power and education compared to their white-collar counterparts, individuals in such roles possess skills extending beyond offices, engaging in strenuous labor. These diverse roles, from manufacturing and repair to law enforcement, play crucial roles in daily life and contribute to economic growth.

“We are just complying with what the boss says and what the job entails,” says Sandro, a corrections officer, acknowledging the controversy and scrutiny often associated with his profession. Renz, a telecommunication company supervisor, shares a similar sentiment, understanding people’s perceptions and emphasizing that they are just carrying out their work despite complaints. Every profession has the inevitability of encountering complaints, but are blue-collar workers more susceptible to them than those in white-collar industries?

A nation emphasizing the need for an established career before deeming someone respectable negatively impacts people’s well-being. Possessing a diploma does not guarantee financial and societal stability, as the chosen profession does not solely define past degrees, present capabilities, or prospects

Now is the time to taste the different flavors wrapped in different colors. Do people prefer the milky-flavored covered in white because of its sweetness? Or is the darker flavor wrapped in blue ignored due to some misconceptions set by those who are not into it?