Investor-friendly does not necessarily mean anti-labor.

They are not mutually exclusive.

If there can be a Public Private Partnership, there ought to be a labor-management cooperation.

Such cordial meeting of the minds to achieve a common goal – sustained corporate profitability and commensurate compensation – should be the order of the day during these difficult times, especially for companies whose operations depend on global economic conditions.

Take the struggling civil aviation industry.

Stiff competition from new carriers, overly strict international air safety standards, non-reciprocal arrangements with other countries, a mindless “open-skies” policy, and the high cost of aviation fuel, maintenance, and spare parts are putting a crimp on the growth of our passenger-airline industry.

Surely, our airlines need all the “wiggle room” to maneuver through such unfriendly economic and regulatory skies.

And luckily, the government is discerning enough to appreciate the problems buffeting the airline industry.

For instance, business leaders are cheering Malacañang’s decision to allow Philippine Airlines to outsource its non-core operations as part of efforts to restructure the struggling national flag carrier and save an estimated P600 million in costs each year.

In fact, PAL’s restructuring plan received fresh impetus this week after it announced that it slipped back in the red with a net loss of $10.6 million in the first quarter of its current fiscal year. This marked a reversal from the $31.6 million in net income it recorded during the same period in 2010.

Beyond helping the airline to compete better, the industry leaders said the decision of the Aquino administration sends a strong signal to both local and foreign businessmen that the country is an investor-friendly destination.

“The position of the Palace on the PAL [labor] case is definitely a positive move that will increase the confidence of investors in this country,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries Inc. president Francis Chua was quoted by a major broadsheet as saying.

PCCI’s position was echoed by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines.

“I think this will give business more confidence going forward that we can outsource our non-core activities,” ECOP chairman emeritus Donald Dee said.

Foreign businessmen also lauded the Palace decision.

“If PAL wants to stay in business and be competitive with budget carriers and new airlines, they have to spin off [their non-core businesses],” said American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Robert Sears.

European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines vice president Henry Schumacher had the same sentiments.

“Companies and the government should be allowed to do what it takes to stay or become more competitive,” Schumacher said.

The move is expected to affect 2,600 personnel of the airline, but PAL president Jaime Bautista said that many of them would likely be reabsorbed by the spun off firms.

Earlier this year, the Department of Labor and Employment approved PAL’s restructuring plan, which the airline’s unions vehemently oppose. The PAL Employees Association brought their appeal before the Office of the President, which affirmed the DoLE ruling.