The Aquino administration has given the Philippines a dubious distinction as one of the worst countries to work in, the Trade Union Congress of Philippines said on Wednesday.
Citing the findings of the International Trade Union Confederation, TUCP president Democrito Mendoza said that 73 percent of the 39 million labor force are not regularized: they work as contractual for five months while majority of them do not receive lawful minimum wage.
“They are also fired from their jobs if they try to form a union that can bargain higher wages and benefits from employer profits,” the TUCP said.
The ITUC’s Global Rights Index rates countries on a scale of 1 (best) to 5 (worst) depending on their compliance with collective labor rights. This is done by evaluating 97 indicators, such as workers’ rights to establish or join unions, to collective bargaining and to strike.
The Philippines scored 5, which means there is “no guarantee of rights,” along with 23 other countries.
Countries with the rating of 5 are the worst countries in the world to work in. While the legislation may spell out certain rights workers have effectively no access to these rights and are therefore exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices,” the ITUC report said.
“Without security of tenure, Filipino workers also suffer from lack of social protection services provided by the government. Government sell basic services to private ownership who exist to earn profits and not serve the public good,” Mendoza said.
Filipino workers also don’t have unemployment insurance to protect them when they lost their jobs; health insurance is high and unstable.
“Workers are also vulnerable to unstable prices of basic commodities. Sometimes government failed to assure supply and workers often suffer for it,” the TUCP said.
Based on the report, having a 1 rating means collective labor rights are “generally guaranteed”, and violations against workers do not occur on a regular basis.
“Countries such as Denmark and Uruguay led the way through their strong labor laws, but perhaps surprisingly, the likes of Greece, the United States and Hong Kong, lagged behind,” said ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow.
“A country’s level of development proved to be a poor indicator of whether it respected basic rights to bargain collectively, strike for decent conditions, or simply join a union at all,” she added.
The ITUC noted that workers in at least 53 countries have either been dismissed or suspended from their jobs “for attempting to negotiate better working conditions.”
While many countries recognize the right to strike, ITUC noted that at least 87 countries exclude certain types of workers from this right. There are also 37 countries that impose fines or even jail time for workers who go on strikes.
“In countries such as Qatar or Saudi Arabia, the exclusion of migrant workers from collective labor rights means that effectively more than 90 per cent of the workforce is unable to have access to their rights leading to forced labor practices in both countries supported by archaic sponsorship laws.
Several Southeast Asian countries also scored 5, such as Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia and South Korea.
Middle Eastern countries Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, where many Filipinos are working, also received a score of 5.
However, there were countries that had even worse conditions, getting a score of 5+. These are: Libya, Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Central African Republic. The rating of 5+ means there is no guarantee of workers’ rights due to breakdown of the rule of law. Manila Standard
Thursday, May 29, 2014
TUCP: Philippines really among worst countries for workers
LABOR group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) immediately affirmed the finding of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) that the country is currently among the worst countries for workers.
TUCP president Democrito Mendoza said the ITUC was right on in saying that workers in the country are exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices.
"TUCP confirms the findings of ITUC that Philippines is indeed one of the worst places to work in," said Mendoza in a statement.
The labor group noted how about 73 to 75 percent of the 39 million members of the labor force are not being regularized and are only contractual employees for an average of five months.
Also, Mendoza said some 85 percent of contractuals are not receiving lawful minimum wages and are also fired immediately from their jobs once they try to form a labor union.
"Without security of tenure, Filipino workers are also suffering from lack of social protection services provided by government," said Mendoza.
The TUCP also underscored that unemployment in the country is already at three million while underemployment is placed at seven million.
"In fact, we anticipate unemployment will rise to five million due to the fact that there are no new infrastructures to attract large and jobs-creating investments," Mendoza further said.
In its 2014 Global Rights Index, the ITUC ranked countries based on internationally recognized indicators to assess where workers' rights, such as democratic rights, decent wages, safer working conditions, and secure jobs, are best protected, in law and in practice.
The Philippines was placed in the "5" rated countries, which means that legislation protecting workers' rights are in place but that workers have effectively no access to such rights.
On the other hand, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) chose to downplay the results of the finding saying it does not describe the working condition in the country accurately.
"It does not necessarily concern the workers' rights since we don't have problems with other workers' rights. We can say the industry advocacy for workers in the country is very good," said Baldoz.
"In terms of quality of work in the country, I can say we are doing okay. Same goes with what they are saying about labor rights," she added.
The labor chief admitted that there remains the problem on extrajudicial killings of workers in the country.
She said this is the reason why Dole is already closely coordinating with the Department of Justice.
"Justice Secretary Leila de Lima already committed to fast track the investigation and hearing of extra judicial killings involving workers by creating special teams to prosecute," said Baldoz. (HDT/Sunnex)
TUCP president Democrito Mendoza said the ITUC was right on in saying that workers in the country are exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices.
"TUCP confirms the findings of ITUC that Philippines is indeed one of the worst places to work in," said Mendoza in a statement.
The labor group noted how about 73 to 75 percent of the 39 million members of the labor force are not being regularized and are only contractual employees for an average of five months.
Also, Mendoza said some 85 percent of contractuals are not receiving lawful minimum wages and are also fired immediately from their jobs once they try to form a labor union.
"Without security of tenure, Filipino workers are also suffering from lack of social protection services provided by government," said Mendoza.
The TUCP also underscored that unemployment in the country is already at three million while underemployment is placed at seven million.
"In fact, we anticipate unemployment will rise to five million due to the fact that there are no new infrastructures to attract large and jobs-creating investments," Mendoza further said.
In its 2014 Global Rights Index, the ITUC ranked countries based on internationally recognized indicators to assess where workers' rights, such as democratic rights, decent wages, safer working conditions, and secure jobs, are best protected, in law and in practice.
The Philippines was placed in the "5" rated countries, which means that legislation protecting workers' rights are in place but that workers have effectively no access to such rights.
On the other hand, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) chose to downplay the results of the finding saying it does not describe the working condition in the country accurately.
"It does not necessarily concern the workers' rights since we don't have problems with other workers' rights. We can say the industry advocacy for workers in the country is very good," said Baldoz.
"In terms of quality of work in the country, I can say we are doing okay. Same goes with what they are saying about labor rights," she added.
The labor chief admitted that there remains the problem on extrajudicial killings of workers in the country.
She said this is the reason why Dole is already closely coordinating with the Department of Justice.
"Justice Secretary Leila de Lima already committed to fast track the investigation and hearing of extra judicial killings involving workers by creating special teams to prosecute," said Baldoz. (HDT/Sunnex)
Philippines among worst countries for workers
THE PHILIPPINES has been tagged as one of the worst countries for workers, according to a report from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
The country, based on ITUC’s 2014 Global Rights Index, earned a “5” rating, which meant “no guarantee of rights”.
“Countries with the rating of 5 are the worst countries in the world to work in. While the legislation may spell out certain rights, workers have effectively no access to these rights and are therefore exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices,” the ITUC said.
The organization’s other ratings include a 5+ for “no guarantee of rights due to the breakdown of the rule of law”, 4 for “systematic violation of rights”, 3 for “regular violation of rights”, 2 for “repeated violation of rights” and 1 for “irregular violation of rights.
“Based on reports from affiliates, workers in at least 53 countries have either been dismissed or suspended from their jobs for attempting to negotiate better working conditions,” the ITUC said.
“In the vast majority of these cases, the national legislation offered either no protection or did not provided dissuasive sanctions in order to hold abusive employers accountable,” it added.
Asked for comment, Alan A. Tanjusay, spokesman of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said prevailing working conditions in the country “confirm the report”.
He cited, among other things, contractual workers receiving less than the mandated minimum wage, lack of security of tenure and health insurance, the transfer of social services to the private sector from the government, vulnerability to price fluctuations of commodities and high unemployment.
“In fact, we anticipate unemployment will rise to 5 million due to the fact that there are no new infrastructures to attract large and job-creating investments,” Mr. Tanjusay said.
The country’s unemployment rate stood at 7.5% as of January this year.
Edgardo G. Lacson, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, said for his part: “Ugliness, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder”.
“The opinion of one group may not truly represent the sentiment of the entire universe of 41 million workers in the country,” Mr. Lacson said in a text message.
“Workers’ condition in various workplaces is situational, and the claim by the group in question must be supported by empirical data,” he added.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz declined to comment, saying she has yet to read a copy of the report.
The ITUC Global Rights Index covered violations in 139 countries from April 2013 to March 2014.
ITUC is a confederation of national trade union centers with 325 affiliated organizations in 161 countries and territories. It has a membership of over 176 million. - BusinessWorld
The country, based on ITUC’s 2014 Global Rights Index, earned a “5” rating, which meant “no guarantee of rights”.
“Countries with the rating of 5 are the worst countries in the world to work in. While the legislation may spell out certain rights, workers have effectively no access to these rights and are therefore exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices,” the ITUC said.
The organization’s other ratings include a 5+ for “no guarantee of rights due to the breakdown of the rule of law”, 4 for “systematic violation of rights”, 3 for “regular violation of rights”, 2 for “repeated violation of rights” and 1 for “irregular violation of rights.
“Based on reports from affiliates, workers in at least 53 countries have either been dismissed or suspended from their jobs for attempting to negotiate better working conditions,” the ITUC said.
“In the vast majority of these cases, the national legislation offered either no protection or did not provided dissuasive sanctions in order to hold abusive employers accountable,” it added.
Asked for comment, Alan A. Tanjusay, spokesman of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said prevailing working conditions in the country “confirm the report”.
He cited, among other things, contractual workers receiving less than the mandated minimum wage, lack of security of tenure and health insurance, the transfer of social services to the private sector from the government, vulnerability to price fluctuations of commodities and high unemployment.
“In fact, we anticipate unemployment will rise to 5 million due to the fact that there are no new infrastructures to attract large and job-creating investments,” Mr. Tanjusay said.
The country’s unemployment rate stood at 7.5% as of January this year.
Edgardo G. Lacson, president of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, said for his part: “Ugliness, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder”.
“The opinion of one group may not truly represent the sentiment of the entire universe of 41 million workers in the country,” Mr. Lacson said in a text message.
“Workers’ condition in various workplaces is situational, and the claim by the group in question must be supported by empirical data,” he added.
Labor Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz declined to comment, saying she has yet to read a copy of the report.
The ITUC Global Rights Index covered violations in 139 countries from April 2013 to March 2014.
ITUC is a confederation of national trade union centers with 325 affiliated organizations in 161 countries and territories. It has a membership of over 176 million. - BusinessWorld
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
PHL one of the worst places to work in – ITUC labor rights index
The Philippines is among the worst countries in the world for employees to work in, the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said in a report.
On this matter, ITUC has lumped the Philippines with most Southeast Asian countries that failed the assessment on workers' rights.
But the Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) noted such label unjustly generalized the Philippines, saying such evaluations must be based on "empirical data."
ITUC's Global Rights Index assessed 139 countries on compliance with collective labor rights, as defined by International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions.
Countries were ranked from 1 (best) to 5 (worst) based on 97 indicators related to workers' rights. The evaluation was done from April 2013 to March 2014.
According to the Global Rights Index, the Philippines garnered a rating of 5, along with Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.
Countries with the rating of 5 have laws that cover rights workers but are not effectively accessible, which expose laborers to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices.
Unfair
The ITUC assessment is unfair, ECOP president Edgardo Lacson told GMA News Online in a phone interview, saying it "should be based on empirical data."
"[The country is] definitely not [the worst place to work in]. If that is true, then all Filipinos should be overseas Filipino workers," he said.
"The methodology is grounded in standards of fundamental rights at work, in particular the right to freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike," Sharan Burrow, ITUC general Secretary, said in the report.
Lacson said the condition of labor in the country is relative to the area covered. "As employers, we have the most rigid labor laws to protect workers," he claimed.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), which affirmed the assessment of the international trade organization, said Filipino workers face problems of tenure and security.
Health unemployment insurance?
"73 to 75 percent of the 39 million labor force is not regularized... who work as contractual... with 85 percent... not receiving lawful minimum wage," spokesperson Alan Tanjusay told GMA News Online in a text message.
"Without security of tenure, Filipino workers are also suffering from lack of social protection services provided by government," Tanjusay said.
Health and unemployment insurance are also not readily available to workers, he said.
The latest labor force survey, released by the National Statistics Office in January, showed the jobless rate in the Philippines went up to 7.5 percent – or 2.969 million jobless Filipinos – from 7.1 percent or 2.776 million a year earlier.
TUCP's Tanjusay said there is no assurance the unemployment rate will go down by the end of President Benigno Aquino III's term in 2016 and is expected to even rise.
"We anticipate unemployment will rise to 5 million due to the fact there are no new infrastructure to attract large investments that create jobs," he said, citing the high cost of power in the country.
Power rates in the Philippines remain one of the most expensive in Asia as government does not subsidize electricity, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said in September 2013.
A 2012 study by the International Energy Consultants (IEC) noted average electric rates in the Philippines, particularly the Manila Electric Company franchise, was the ninth highest among 44 selected distributors across the globe, and three times higher than Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia – which allocate subsidies to the power sector. – VS, GMA News
On this matter, ITUC has lumped the Philippines with most Southeast Asian countries that failed the assessment on workers' rights.
But the Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) noted such label unjustly generalized the Philippines, saying such evaluations must be based on "empirical data."
ITUC's Global Rights Index assessed 139 countries on compliance with collective labor rights, as defined by International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions.
Countries were ranked from 1 (best) to 5 (worst) based on 97 indicators related to workers' rights. The evaluation was done from April 2013 to March 2014.
According to the Global Rights Index, the Philippines garnered a rating of 5, along with Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.
Countries with the rating of 5 have laws that cover rights workers but are not effectively accessible, which expose laborers to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices.
Unfair
The ITUC assessment is unfair, ECOP president Edgardo Lacson told GMA News Online in a phone interview, saying it "should be based on empirical data."
"[The country is] definitely not [the worst place to work in]. If that is true, then all Filipinos should be overseas Filipino workers," he said.
"The methodology is grounded in standards of fundamental rights at work, in particular the right to freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining and the right to strike," Sharan Burrow, ITUC general Secretary, said in the report.
Lacson said the condition of labor in the country is relative to the area covered. "As employers, we have the most rigid labor laws to protect workers," he claimed.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), which affirmed the assessment of the international trade organization, said Filipino workers face problems of tenure and security.
Health unemployment insurance?
"73 to 75 percent of the 39 million labor force is not regularized... who work as contractual... with 85 percent... not receiving lawful minimum wage," spokesperson Alan Tanjusay told GMA News Online in a text message.
"Without security of tenure, Filipino workers are also suffering from lack of social protection services provided by government," Tanjusay said.
Health and unemployment insurance are also not readily available to workers, he said.
The latest labor force survey, released by the National Statistics Office in January, showed the jobless rate in the Philippines went up to 7.5 percent – or 2.969 million jobless Filipinos – from 7.1 percent or 2.776 million a year earlier.
TUCP's Tanjusay said there is no assurance the unemployment rate will go down by the end of President Benigno Aquino III's term in 2016 and is expected to even rise.
"We anticipate unemployment will rise to 5 million due to the fact there are no new infrastructure to attract large investments that create jobs," he said, citing the high cost of power in the country.
Power rates in the Philippines remain one of the most expensive in Asia as government does not subsidize electricity, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said in September 2013.
A 2012 study by the International Energy Consultants (IEC) noted average electric rates in the Philippines, particularly the Manila Electric Company franchise, was the ninth highest among 44 selected distributors across the globe, and three times higher than Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia – which allocate subsidies to the power sector. – VS, GMA News
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