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