Just days after workers went to show their greivances on the streets by holding rallies on labor day, politicians are mum on their perennial promises in support of the welfare of the working class. It took just a day for polticians cum policymakers to get into other concerns, chiefly those that will give them media milleage. Truly, the issues affecting workers would not give them personal gain, especially for their next election. This is the reality that workers had lived with all their lives. They simply have no choice but to continue working for the survival of their family. The realuzation of promises to alleviate their economic condition is a long ordeal that they have to accept.
The unfortunate situation is lamentable in the proverbial story of the ditch-digger. Under the scorching heat of the sun and the fithy mud, the ditch-digger has a poignant answer when asked why he keeps digging ditches. His answer, “i dig the ditch to buy me food to give me strength to dig the ditch” is a sordid reality true to the life of the poor who have to choice but bear the pain of exploitation.
That happened to the sugarcane workers in negros. With meager wages inadequate to feed the family, they are forced to borrow money at usurious interest from their capitalist landlords, thinking that the borrowed money could make both ends meet, but actualy could still not. Buried in huge debts that keep on growing with the high interests, they have to helplessly watch their children die of malnurishment that turns to hunger and eventually, death with an emptied breadbasket.
The situation is not only true the the sugarcare plantations. It too is prevalent among farmworkers in the ricefields. The workers sweat under the heat of the sun to earn a daily wage that is not enough to feed the family for a day. It too is the condition among factory workers.
Media workers who bring the news to inform the public of the social injustice that they themselves are victims of exploitation. They earn much less than the value of their toil and resort to borrowings just to buy food that will give them strength to be able to work, akin to the ditch digger.
In all the situations, the working class remain buried in debts while their rich, powerful and influencial employers continue getting richer, powerful and influential from the sweat and blood of workers who are exploited by capitalist employers who are exploiters.
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For abandoned wives
Marriage is a sacred bond between two individuals, and it is an institution that holds immense significance in society. However, sometimes the sanctity of this bond is tampered with, when one individual decides to abandon their spouse for someone else. This situation is extremely painful for the spouse who is left behind and can have long-lasting effects.
Hence, it becomes essential to understand the rights of a wife left behind by her husband for another lady, and what course of action she can take to alleviate her troubles.
The first and foremost right of a wife who has been abandoned by her husband is to claim alimony or spousal support. Alimony is a financial support system that is awarded by the court and is paid by the spouse who has a higher earning capacity. The wife can claim alimony as long as she does not remarry or has an independent source of income. This support can help the wife to lead a decent life and help her pay for all her day-to-day expenses. It is a way to compensate for the loss of income that the wife had to bear due to her husband’s abandonment.
Besides alimony, the wife left behind is entitled to claim maintenance, which covers her living expenses and necessities like food, clothing, and shelter. If the husband denies maintenance and refuses to support her, she can approach the court and seek justice. The court will take into consideration the financial status of both parties and come up with a suitable amount for maintenance.
In case of a dispute over the property or assets acquired during the marriage, the wife left behind can claim her share of the property. The property or assets acquired during the marriage are considered joint property, and both spouses have equal rights over them. Hence, the wife left behind can approach the court and seek a division of the property. The court will take into account the contributions of both partners, and the final division is done accordingly.
If the spouse who has abandoned the wife for another lady has also abandoned any children, the wife left behind has the right to seek custody of the children. She can take full custody of the children or seek joint custody, depending on the circumstances. The court takes into account the welfare of the children and decides on their custody. Additionally, the husband is bound to pay for the child’s maintenance and education until they reach the age of maturity or until they can support themselves.
Another right of the wife left behind is to file for annulment. If the husband has abandoned her for another lady and shows no sign of returning to her, she can file for that. She can also file for legal separation on the grounds of cruelty, desertion, or adultery. The wife can approach the court and seek a separation decree, which will validate her right to end the marriage.
The wife left behind also has the right to claim compensation for the pain and suffering caused by her husband’s abandonment. This compensation is awarded to the wife for the physical, emotional, and mental trauma that she has had to undergo. The court takes into account the degree of suffering and awards adequate compensation to the wife.
The abandoned wife also has the right to move on with her life. In other countries, she has the full right to remarry and lead a happy life. Remarriage will not affect her right to alimony and maintenance, and the husband will still be bound to support her. Moreover, if the wife remarries, she can get custody of the children from her previous marriage and raise them with her new partner.
Yes, the wife left behind by her husband for another lady has various legal rights, and the law, fortunately, has provisions to protect her interests and secure her future. It is then imperative for the wife to know and understand her legal rights and take the necessary steps to secure them.