Just compensation is really a mere ideal that is often unfulfilled. Human want is insatiable that no amount could approximate satisfaction. The craving for more makes us feel the empty than the filled portion. While the worker deserves just wages according to standards set by law, the same may still not be enough compensation for his labor. Ones pay may be in accordance with minimum standards but may fall short of what is just in relation to the nature of work. The worker’s needs are not often met even with standard wages. The situation is even worse for workers who are not given the minimum wage that is mandated by law. Such situation will place the worker at a miserably disadvantageous position as his unmet needs increase. The gap is not much due to the insatiable wants of the worker but the utter lack of the pay due his labor.
We start complaining when we do not get what is due us. The tendency of workers to seek for just wages according to standards set by law must be respected. It is their right to demand for what is due them according what is prescribed by law. In many instances, workers are forced to complain over unjust wages that fall short of the minimum. These workers do not care too much on getting what is just compensation for their labor, all they need is the fulfillment of the pay due them. The predicament is often caused by employers who deprive their workers of just wages as mandated by law. While they demand honest work beyond regular hours, these employers refuse to give honest wages in return. Many workers, both in private and government, are into this inequitable pit of underpayment.
Good workers must be uncomplaining in doing his task assigned by the employer. For the agreed pay, the worker is bound to perform his duty. As long as the worker is given the pay agreed upon for the work he is to render, there is no reason complaining. Unfortunately though, some workers would want to change the terms of employment for convenience. Instead of doing his task, he would chose to watch over the work of others and assume a different role of his own choice. After agreeing for a particular task at a specific pay, the worker would want to impose changes that will modify the work setup and relationships. Attending to the work of other workers, he starts retrogressing in his performance. The trouble comes when he seeks for the standard pay even while failing in the performance of his duties.
On the other hand, employers who take advantage of the labor of his workers are getting richer at the expense of others. These employers do not deserve raking in the profits of other people’s labor. This is where the inequity between employers and workers need just rectification. It is grossly unfair for workers to be humiliated and berated by employers for failing to do tasks that are in fact beyond their regular duties. Seldom could we find generous employers are depicted in today’s gospel. Nevertheless, we are called to be thankful for what we get for an honest day’s work. If the pay we get is less than what is due us, it is not ours to answer before God. Let us just learn to count our blessings and avoid envying other people. Our feeling of emptiness is often caused by our enviousness of others. We entertain self-pity for getting less than the next person. Let us just pray that we may learn to accept and be contented with our blessings so that we will find happiness and contentment in life.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com

We have to commend Senator Richard Gordon for his courageous and timely initiative to investigate the suspicious influx of funds and its relations to Philippine offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs).
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has been remiss in taking action on the suspicious influx of over $600 million in cash brought in by Filipino and Chinese couriers in the last 7 months. The AMLC tolerated the huge amounts of dollars believed laundered in the Philippines.
The influx of cash dollars was detected as early as September 2019 and there might be a collusion among officials of concerned government agencies, the reason why the entry of the dollar currency continues.
The AMLC, Department of Finance, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Bureau of Customs could have first raised alarm on the matter and filed cases that would have forced the real owners of the money to come out.
The POGOs are not desirable economic activities for any country and should therefore not be allowed in our country. Revenues must come from healthy and proper economic activities not from criminal activities. POGO is the natural partner of various crimes which have significantly increased since the inception of POGOs. These crimes are prostitution, human trafficking, money laundering and exposure of government personnel to all kinds of corruption and bribery.
Visa upon arrival to Chinese people should not be allowed. Our country should not give Visa-free entry to 1.4 Billion Chinese citizens.
There is also the weakness of our law enforcement. How can anyone manage to bring in millions of dollars regularly through the NAIA without informing the AMLC. Little wonder that dirty money continues to find a haven in the Philippines.
There should be a lifting of bank secrecy laws in cases of money laundering.