PH labor movement receives human rights award for ‘dedication’ amid danger

The Philippine labor movement is given the George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award for its ‘dedication and courage’ amid dangerous conditions for trade unionists in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Several Filipino labor leaders, on behalf of the Philippine labor movement, received the prestigious George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) for its “dedication and courage” amid a hostile environment for labor unions in the Philippines.

On Wednesday, December 6, local time in Washington DC, American national trade union center AFL-CIO presented the award to leaders of Philippine trade unions, including the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro), Trade Union Congress of the Phiippines (TUCP), Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), and BPO Industry Employee Network (BIEN).

“This recognition from such a storied institution as the AFL-CIO fortifies our resolve and validates our efforts in advocating for workers’ rights under challenging circumstances,” FFW said in a statement ahead of the awarding ceremony on Tuesday, December 5.

In its announcement of its conferment of the award to the Philippine labor movement in July, the AFL-CFO acknowledged how the Philippines was among the deadliest countries for workers.

AFL-CIO noted how labor leaders are red-tagged, which “allows for the aggressive surveillance, mistreatment, torture, imprisonment, and even killings of workers.”

“Amidst this dangerous reality, the Philippine labor movement continues to organize, build power and fight for the rights of workers across their country. In the face of threats to their own lives, our union brothers, sisters and siblings in the Philippines continue to garner global support for their campaign of resistance,” the AFL-CIO said.

The FFW said that the award serves not just as a recognition of its courage, but as a “beacon of solidarity, illuminating the path towards a global fraternity of labor organizations united in the pursuit of justice and equity.”

Dangerous conditions

The administration of then-president Rodrigo Duterte cracked down on dissent, which included workers and activists. Unions under Sentro had sounded the alarm over being red-tagged, or linked to the communist insurgency, by security forces.

In the 2020 International Trade Union Confederation’s Global Rights Index, the ITUC noted how Filipino union members were at risk of violence, intimidation, and murder. Some cases of murdered unionists in extrajudicial killings included Dennis Sequeña, who was shot and killed in Cavite in June 2019, and Reynaldo Malaborbor, who was also shot to death in November the same year in Laguna.

But even as the administration changed, labor leaders have continued to report union-busting and killings. Alex Dolorosa, paralegal officer and full-time officer of BIEN, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in Bacolod in April.

The AFL-CIO said in July that as human rights conditions in the Philippines deteriorated, the organization and its affiliates have worked to bring attention to the persecution of its Filipino partners to the international stage, including with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the US government.

“The Filipino government has so far ignored international calls to establish new mechanisms to address freedom of association violations and hold perpetrators to account,” the AFL-CIO said.

In May, following the first Labor Day under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the President ordered the creation of an inter-agency panel to protect workers’ right to organize.

However, in July, several labor groups continued to press the Marcos administration to better protect their freedom to associate.

“We look at this award underscoring the legitimacy of trade union organizing, not as an act of political defiance, but as an exercise of a universally recognized right,” said FFW.

Meeting with US National Security Advisor

Ahead of the awarding, on Monday, December 4, the Philippine labor leaders met with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss US President Joe Biden’s recent memorandum on “advancing workers’ rights globally and the importance of freedom of association and collective bargaining in promoting sustainable economic growth and strong democratic societies.”

The FFW said that the labor leaders presented their “Ask List” regarding concerns for improving labor conditions in the Philippines, which included ending trade union killings and red-tagging, as well as enforcing labor rights through the establishment of a Presidential commission for workers’ free association, as per the ILO High-Level Tripartite Mission’s recommendations.

According to a readout from the White House, Sullivan reiterated the Biden administration’s commitment to support the efforts of workers in the US and abroad to form unions.

Sullivan also condemned all forms of harassment, intimidation, and violence against workers, and advocated for the exercising of their fundamental rights. –  Michelle Abad / Rappler.com 

Labor groups expect P150 legislated wage hike

DESPITE recent wage increases in 12 out of 17 regions, organized labor groups remain confident that the proposed P150 across-the-board legislated wage hike will be enacted into law.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Federation of Free Workers (FFF), two of the country's biggest labor organizations, said they were optimistic about the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 2002 after the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment wrapped up the work of the technical working group.

SB 2002, authored by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, calls for a P150 across-the-board increase in the minimum wage of workers in the private sector across the regions to cushion the impact of surging price spikes, which greatly diminished the take-home pay of minimum wage earners.

"TUCP stands in resolute support of Senate Bill 2002, which advocates for an across-the-board P150 wage increase for workers nationwide, as the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment wraps up the work of the technical working group (TWG) where TUCP consistently and actively participated in," said TUCP Vice President Luis Corral.

"Senate Bill 2002 is a beacon of hope for our workers, offering not just a financial reprieve but a tangible recognition of their invaluable contributions to our society. The proposed across-the-board P150 wage increase is not merely a matter of economics, but of simple justice, common fairness and respect for the worker that sustains our nation's progress," he added.

FFF President Sonny Matula said that while they appreciate the wage hike increases in 12 of the 17 regions of the country, the wage orders issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) were not enough or insufficient as they failed to address the glaring wage disparities among regions and within the agricultural sector, adding that the wage disparities perpetuate discrimination and hinder economic inclusivity.

"If the Senate and the House can act on the P150 across-the-board wage increase, it would be a significant help for ordinary workers, as it will boost the economy, particularly in rural areas," added Matula.

A counterpart measure, House Bill (HB) 7871, or the "Wage Recovery Act of 2023," has also been filed by House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrtio Mendoza,

HB 7871 is meant to address the steady decline in the real value of wages due to surging inflation. It has already been approved at the committee level.

Corral said SB 2002 and HB 79871 represent a crucial step in addressing the pressing needs of the labor force, fostering a more equitable economic landscape, and addressing the growing gap between increased labor productivity and stagnant wage levels. 

Corral said SB 2002 and HB 79871 represent a crucial step in addressing the pressing needs of the labor force, fostering a more equitable economic landscape, and addressing the growing gap between increased labor productivity and stagnant wage levels. - By William B. Depasupil / The Manila Times

Labor groups laud Marcos’ ratification of ILO convention vs workplace harassment

The ILO Convention Concerning the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work needs the concurrence of the Senate to take effect

MANILA, Philippines – Various labor groups expressed messages of triumph after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. endorsed to the Senate an International Labor Organization (ILO) convention that would seek to end violence and harassment in the workplace.

In a letter to the Senate, dated October 13 but released to the media on Wednesday, November 8, Marcos expressed his endorsement of ILO Convention 190 (C190), or the Convention Concerning the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, and sought the Senate’s concurrence.

In the “world of work,” C190 encompasses all sectors – from public to private, urban and rural, and in the formal and informal economy. The convention provides a common framework to address violence and harassment, including gender-based violence, the President highlighted.

“The ratification of ILO C190 will fortify the Philippine government’s mandate and policy in promoting and protecting the rights of Filipino workers, locally and overseas, by pushing for a work environment with zero tolerance for violence and harassment,” said Marcos.

“After examining the text thereof, I find it advisable to ratify [ILO C190] and seek the Senate’s concurrence thereto,” he added.

Some labor groups in Metro Manila engaged in a “last push” to urge Marcos to ratify the convention on September 27, highlighting how it would address the intersectional issues that cause workplace violence.

Marcos’ endorsement of the convention comes after years of lobbying and work from the labor sector.

‘Groundbreaking global treaty’

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Representative Raymond Mendoza said that the President’s ratification of this “groundbreaking global treaty” demonstrated the President’s resolve towards a modern Philippine society.

“His leadership from the front solidifies the Philippines as the newest priority investment hub through progressive, worker-centered and race-to-the-top labor relations,” said Mendoza, who is TUCP president.

Mendoza also thanked House Speaker Martin Romualdez for “steering” the House to adopt House Resolution No. 43, which sought the immediate ratification of ILO C190 in January.

“When workers live and work under fear of violence and discrimination and quid pro quo workplace sexual harassment – ’kapit sa patalim’ – amid the survival crisis of joblessness and poor job quality, worker morale and productivity dwindle. Thus, ratifying ILO C190 holistically promotes the welfare of both labor and business,” he said.

Mendoza added that ratifying ILO C190 would also help the Philippines inch closer to the end of the long list of abuses and brutal killings of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), such as Jullebee Ranara, Jeanelyn Villavende, and Joanna Demafelis, among others.    

 Victory of lobbying groups

  

In a joint statement, Public Services International (PSI), Building and Wood Workers International (BWI), IndustriALL Global Union, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and UNI Global Union cited the years of lobbying from labor groups for the Philippines to ratify the convention since it was adopted in 2019.

The groups urged the Senate to immediately concur.

“At a time when our workers continue to be subjected to different forms of violence and harassment including physical violence, psychological violence, sexual abuse and economic violence committed by various state and non-state offenders, ratifying ILO C190 is very much urgent and a big step forward towards ensuring decent work for all workers,” they said.

The groups also highlighted how the convention would help prevent discrimination against workers of various sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions (SOGIE), and similarly marginalized groups like persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and other workers experiencing various forms of discrimination.

Meanwhile, the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa-Women (SENTRO-Women) said the state of the convention in the Philippines now is a product of years of campaigning, organizing, and mobilizing among workers.

“Sleepless nights were spent both on sharpening the content of the convention through direct participation in the ILO, and convincing governments such as the Philippines to support ratification,” said SENTRO-Women.

“Philippine ratification of C190 will be followed by a long and grueling process of instituting the necessary legislation, policies, and reforms to create an environment that fully respects the right of workers to live free from violence and harassment. To this end, the struggle for the emancipation and protection of the Filipino working class continues,” the group added.

Under the Philippine Constitution, for international treaties like ILO C190 to be valid and effective in the country, these need the ratification of the President, and the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate. – 

  

– Rappler.com - MICHELLE ABAD

TUCP: Ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 against violence and harassment a milestone

After years of advocacy and legislative campaign for the welfare of millions of Filipino workers here and abroad, especially women and our OFWs, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) lauds His Excellency President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos, Jr. for the ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 190 or the Violence and Harassment Convention of 2019, calling the act a milestone of the current Administration and of the steadfast leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez at the House of Representatives in ensuring protection to our workers.

“The President’s ratification of this groundbreaking global treaty that seeks to end all forms of violence and harassment confronted by all types of workers demonstrates his Administration’s firm resolve towards a modern and modernizing Philippine society. His leadership from the front solidifies the Philippines as the newest priority investment hub through progressive, worker-centered and race-to-the-top labor relations—tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas para sa Manggagawang Pilipino,” stated House of Representatives Deputy Speaker and TUCP President Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza, who was one of the principal authors of House Resolution No. 43 adopted by the House of Representatives calling for the immediate ratification of ILO C190.

“The TUCP is grateful to Speaker Martin Romualdez for steering the House of Representatives to adopt House Resolution No. 43 calling for the immediate ratification of ILO C190 back in January 2023. We also thank our partners in the business groups for a bipartite campaign for its ratification. Now, we look forward to the concurrence of the Senate led by Senate President Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri who vowed to vote for the concurrence to the ratification of ILO C190 and urged all concerned agencies to speed up the ratification and its deposit of the ratification document to the ILO,” added Mendoza.

ILO C190 comprehensively defines violence and harassment in the world of work as the “range of unacceptable behaviours and practices, or threats thereof, whether a single occurrence or repeated, that aim at, result in or are likely to result in physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm and includes gender-based violence and harassment.” It encompasses both private and public sectors, formal and informal economy, and urban and rural areas as it covers the entire world of work wherein violence and harassment may be occurring in the course of, linked with, or arising out of work. ILO C190 espouses an inclusive, integrated, and gender-responsive approach towards realizing our aspirations of a world free from violence and harassment.

“Regardless if one is in training, a worker whose employment is terminated, a volunteer, job applicant, or an individual exercising the authority, duties, or responsibilities of an employer, among others, ILO C190 protects you. The Philippines’ ratification of ILO C190 underscores that any form of violence, harassment, and abuse has no place in a decent and equitable society such as ours,” emphasized Mendoza.

“When workers live and work under fear of violence and discrimination and quid pro quo workplace sexual harassment—’kapit sa patalim’—amid the survival crisis of joblessness and poor job quality, worker morale and productivity dwindle. Thus, ratifying ILO C190 holistically promotes the welfare of both labor and business. This will be a ‘win-win’ opportunity for both employers and workers as it will upgrade our attractiveness for foreign direct investments (FDIs) because trade instruments, such as the US GSP, EU GSP+, and free trade agreements, are tied to the free and full exercise of labor rights and progressive labor relations in the country. We fervently hope that this will translate to hundreds of thousands of new, permanent, and decent jobs,” underscored Mendoza.

Ratifying ILO C190 now will place the Philippines as one of the first nations to have ratified it in the region and the world. By being one of the trailblazers that first ratified ILO C190, the Philippines will become a model nation that other countries should emulate. Early ratifications would allow other countries to follow suit, ensuring a minimum level of security for the millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been vulnerable to abuse and harassment in their respective host countries for all these years.

“By ratifying ILO C190, we sincerely hope that we are inching closer to the end of the long list of abuses, bullying, and brutal killings suffered by our very own land-based and sea-based OFWs, such as the late Jullebee Ranara, Jeanelyn Villavende, and Joana Demapilis, among many others. Through this ratification, we declare to the world that violence and harassment has no place in the world of work in modern society,” emphasized Mendoza.

“Together as one nation, Bagong Pilipinas should breathe life and meaning to the principles of ILO C190 to spearhead our whole-of-society approach in uprooting the long dark history and culture of violence, harassment, and impunity, especially at work, and establishing our nation as a priority investment destination solidified by progressive, worker-centered, and race-to-the-top labor relations,” stated Mendoza. - Journal Online

TUCP to oil companies: Limit profit-making

AMID the steady rise in the prices of fuel products, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country's biggest labor group, called on oil companies to share the burden by moderating their profit margins, as a way of showing corporate social responsibility.

TUCP's call came following the 11th straight week of oil price hikes, eroding further workers' wages amid relentless rise in the prices of basic commodities and services.

"It is not only PUV (public utility vehicle) drivers and motorists who are taking the hit from oil price hikes but all Filipino families because when gas prices go up, it will have a second-round knockdown effect on almost all basic goods and services," said TUCP Vice President Luis Corral. "Why is it so easy for gas companies to implement price hikes while it is exceedingly hard for workers to demand pay hikes?"

"We have long urged all social partners, both in government and in business, to share the sacrifice because workers have long sacrificed, especially during the pandemic, providing a decent life to their families despite too high prices and too low wages," he pointed out.

Further, the TUCP said the lives of the working class could become more bearable if oil companies go easy on profit-making.

The group added that it supported moves by the leadership of the House of Representatives to recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the possible suspension of excise tax and value-added tax on oil.

"We join calls to review and reform the Oil Deregulation Law. This is long overdue since this policy of unbundling gas prices never ended unfair and unjust pricing borne out of price collusion. It is well-settled, after all, that liberalization and deregulation will only work in a truly free market, and not in an oligopoly filled with colluding firms," the group further said.

At the same time, it called on Congress to prioritize the study and amendment of Republic Act 9136, or the "Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001," more popularly known as the "Epira Law."

It pointed out that the law never achieved its purpose of making electricity in the country affordable and reliable.

"Even before assuming the presidency, the President declared that 'our mission for our country is to have adequate, reliable and affordable electricity for all' in cognizance that 'a big part of every Filipino's salary goes to paying electric bills.' We hope Congress will also [include in the] agenda amendments to Epira, such as proposed rate reduction targets," it said. - By William B. Depasupil

TUCP proposes measures to stem ‘pandemic of human trafficking’

House Deputy Speaker and labor leader Democrito C. Mendoza on Wednesday suggested the country should launch programs and “whole-of-society” response against rising cases of illegal recruitment and human trafficking to save Filipinos lives.

The “pandemic of human trafficking” has threatened thousands of Filipinos who “just want to provide a decent life for their families,” said Mendoza.

For the first two months of 2023, the Bureau of Immigration recorded at least 6,000 victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment in the country. In June, over 2,700 victims were rescued in Las Piñas, following other rescues from other towns.

According to Mendoza, most fall victims to illegal recruiters and human traffickers due to poverty, lack of decent and secured jobs, soaring prices and unlivable wages.

A “one recruiter-to-one deployer correspondence” must be observed to end trafficking, according to a TUCP statement. This means a one-on-one correspondence between the foreign recruiter and the deployer in the Philippines.

In today’s situation, there can be as many as six recruitment agencies to one Philippine deployer.  Hypothetically, if “one recruitment agency is suspended, the Philippine deployer can still deploy to the other five.”

Moreover, the country should impose additional manpower and funding for smaller airports and seaports of border patrol task forces, TUCP said.

In addition, TUCP urged that an education campaign would help end human trafficking. This will raise the awareness of Filipinos on issues and help them detect red flags on job offers.

Victims of human trafficking should be provided a “national reintegration program,” TUCP added as the last part of the key measures.

According to TUCP, government agencies should be on the “frontlines” and provide victims a skills database to match them with a new decent job.

“Amid the pandemic of human trafficking that already threatened thousands of Filipino victims who just want to provide a decent life for their families, the Philippines should lead in this global fight,” said Mendoza.  - Patrick V. Miguel

TUCP: Ratify ILO C-190 , a treaty ending all forms of violence and harassment in workplaces

THE TRADE Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) reiterated its call on Monday for the Philippines to be the first in the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) to ratify International Labor Organization Convention No. 190 (ILO C-190), a treaty ending all forms of violence and harassment in workplaces.

The ILO describes C-190, the Violence and Harassment Convention of 2019, as the first global treaty to contain the “first internationally agreed definition of violence and harassment in the world of work.”

The House in January this year adopted a resolution urging the Philippine government to ratify C-190, but the Senate has yet to concur.

In a statement, TUCP President and Party-list Representative Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. to support its ratification in the interest of “gender equality, women’s freedom from sexism and abuse, and closing the gender gap.”

“What better way to honor the noble legacy of the late Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan ‘Toots’ V. Ople, who devoted her entire purpose-driven life to the plight of modern-day hero Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the advancement of women rights and empowerment than to ratify the groundbreaking ILO Convention No. 190,” Mr. Mendoza said.

Ms. Ople passed away on Aug. 22. The President cited her as a dear friend and “irreplaceable” champion of the causes of OFWs. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Labor defends proposed P150 wage increase

TWO of the country's biggest labor organizations, the Nagkakaisa Labor Coalition (Nagkaisa) and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), on Wednesday called on policymakers and businesses to recognize that investing in workers through higher wages yields significant long-term benefits.

"The positive effects cascade throughout the economy, generating a multiplier effect that contributes to overall prosperity," said Nagkaisa chairman Sonny Matula.

He debunked a statement by business groups that only a minority will benefit from the proposed P150 across-the-board legislative wage increase.

The business' arguments, he pointed out, failed to consider the broader economic effects and undermines the crucial role of fair wages in driving sustainable growth.

He added that contrary to the business sector's claims, raising wages will have a significant positive impact on the economy and the majority of workers.

He explained that ensuring fair wages for a significant portion of the workforce can create a positive ripple effect that stimulates economic activity, increases consumer spending power, and fosters social progress.

In addition, the economic benefits of wage increase can help address the persistent issue of malnutrition in the Philippines, which Unicef said has severe effects on children, including stunted growth.

Nagkaisa maintained that the first key advantage of higher wages is that workers have more money at their disposal, and with increased purchasing power, workers are empowered to spend on essential goods and services, thereby driving consumer demand.

Secondly, the group stressed that higher wages can foster employee loyalty and motivation.

"When workers are fairly compensated for their efforts, they feel valued and are more likely to be engaged and productive in their roles. This improved productivity can enhance business efficiency and output, further bolstering economic growth," it pointed out.

Likewise, it said a workforce with higher wages projects stability and helps attract investments.

For its part, the TUCP said that it is unfortunate that both employers and economic managers are now ganging up in an "overkill" on the poor workers' calls to bring up measly real wages to at least be within the poverty threshold.

Employers and economic managers had claimed that should a wage increase be granted, it would result in widespread closure of medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise 98 percent of businesses in the country.

But on the contrary, TUCP Vice President Luis Corral said that it is precisely the high prices of food and services, rent, and electricity that are now forcing workers to call on Congress to address their desperate situation.

"The TUCP calls on our economic managers to work triply hard to address the soaring prices of basic goods and services, and their impact in further depressing already-low wages. The call for wage increase months ago should have been a wake-up call to the economic managers to save the rapidly deteriorating situation of a majority of the working poor," added Corral.

Trade unions blast govt

On the other hand, the All Philippine Trade Unions (APTU) has slammed the government for not taking seriously the recommendations of the International Labor Organization-High Level Tripartite Mission (ILO-HLTM) to get to the bottom of the killings of trade unionists and blatant violations of workers' right to unionize.

APTU, which is composed of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Kilusang Mayo Uno, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), The Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, among others, has endorsed the joint workers' report to the ILO-HLTM.

The APTU representatives during Wednesday's Pandesal Forum of the Kamuning Bakery and Café in Quezon City castigated the government for allegedly continuing to leave workers out of the inter-agency committee under Executive Order 23, which was supposed to strengthen coordination and expedite the investigation, prosecution and resolution of cases for violations of the right to organize.

"Nothing about us. The workers had been left out of the new body despite being its main proponent," they said.

"Besides, as a member of the ILO and a signatory of the ILO Convention 144, the government is duty-bound to include workers and employers as their social partners in critical bodies such as this," they stressed.

Aside from violating the "spirit of the ILO-HLTM to address violations of freedom of association in a tripartite manner," EO 23's inter-agency committee also falls short of the workers' demand, APTU said.

"What we have been asking for since January when the ILO-HLTM arrived, is a presidential commission that would oversee the full realization of all the recommendations of the ILO, including the urgent need to look into the killings of 69 trade unionists from 2016 to April this year," they said.

"Also, regarding the hundreds of direct attacks on the right to freedom of association such as red-tagging that have led to abductions, enforced disappearances, forced disaffiliation and trumped-up charges against trade union leaders and organizers," the trade unions further said.

In January, the ILO-HLTM asked for a joint tripartite report on the progress made on their recommendations by the next International Labor Conference (ILC) starting on June 5, according to APTU.

"Barely two weeks before the deadline set by the ILO-HLTM to report on the progress on the recommendations, the government has nothing concrete to show at the ILO's ILC in June, except the killing of another trade unionist, Alex Dolorosa of the BPO Industry Employees Network," the group said.

At the forum, Julius Cainglet of the FFW and Mark Villena of the TUCP said that the government is in danger of being called out again by the ILC for being in the list of the worst cases of violators of freedom of association and other trade union rights.

"It is also set to be included in the International Trade Union Confederation's Top 10 Worst Places for Workers to live in. All these would have dire effects on our economy," the APTU representatives said.

"Being labeled once again as one of the Top 10 Worst Countries for workers could also cancel all the efforts of the current administration to woo investors into the country," they warned.- By William B. Depasupil and Arlie O. Calalo

Workers’ groups converge in Mendiola to hold Labor Day protest

Labor groups calling for wage hikes and the end of contractualization assemble along España Boulevard before marching to Mendiola and US Embassy, Manila on May 1, 2023. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino

MANILA, Philippines — Workers from various Philippine trade union centers, labor federations, and organizations calling for wage hikes and an end to contractualization converged along Mendiola Street in Manila to hold their Labor Day protest.

The All Philippine Trade Unions (APTU) are made up of groups such as the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition, and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), including other workers’ organizations.

The caravan of Labor Day rallies started from Welcome Rotonda and met with other protesters along Maceda Street and Ramon Magsaysay High School before walking to Mendiola.

Organizers said over 10,000 workers from various groups attended the event.

Meanwhile, the Manila Police District deployed 1,100 police personnel within the area to ensure public safety. Cops guarding the site also held placards recognizing workers’ efforts and wishing them a “Happy Labor Day.”

After their program in Mendiola, the groups will march to US Embassy to stage another protest in front of its office.  - By: Faith Argosino 

Trade, labor groups to push for rule of law at ILO meet

Trade and labor groups will push for the rule of law, dispensation of justice, and speedy disposition of labor cases in the forthcoming meetings with the International Labor Organization (ILO) here in Manila

This was emphasized by the Leaders Forum (LF), which is composed of business groups and trade unions, as they welcomed and prepare for the High-Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM) on the ILO on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 (No. 87). The three-day meeting will start next week, Jan. 23.

“Respect for labor rights as guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution, national labor laws and ILO Conventions is indispensable for investments and economic growth,” the LF joint statement added.

“As both labor and business groups are an invaluable pillar to any administration,” the LF statement added.

However, the LF stressed that it is also keenly aware of the important role of government in putting in place the policy and operational environment towards this end.

In the spirit of bipartism, the LF is keen to take appropriate steps and make the necessary follow through actions.

Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., who is president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), said ILO officials will first with the employers to be followed by the employees and government and a joint meeting after.

The LF is a national bipartite dialogue mechanism consisting of the largest business organizations, including the ECOP, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PHILEXPORT), and the most representative trade unions in the country, including the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

The HLTM is in line with the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) conclusions adopted at the 108th Session of the International Labour Conference in June 2019. - by Manila Bulletin