Env’l groups, trade unionists join forces vs. lead-based paint

Marking the anniversary of a historic global convention, environmentalists and trade unionists joined forces for the protection of workers, children, and the general public against exposure to lead-based paint.

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, and the EcoWaste Coalition forged the tie-up during the recent 91st anniversary of an International Labor Organization (ILO) convention banning the use of white lead in paint.

Convention C013, or the “White Lead (Painting) Convention,” is a historic act by the ILO during the time of the League of Nations (the precursor to the United Nations or UN), aiming to control lead levels in paint used in interior housing. It was enforced on Aug. 31, 1923.

It prohibits “the use of white lead and sulfate of lead and of all products containing these pigments, in the internal painting of buildings,” but makes it permissible “to use white pigments containing a maximum of two percent of lead.”

“ILO’s early recognition of the problem with toxic lead in paint was a commendable move indeed. Their effort resulted [in] a number of countries adopting restrictions on the lead content of paint. As [this anniversary] is quietly observed, we find it fitting to call for a review of the landmark agreement for it to be in step with the global consensus to eliminate lead paint that is being advanced by the UN-backed Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (GAELP),” EcoWaste Coalition coordinator Aileen Lucero said.

The World Health Organization and the UN Environment Program serve as joint Secretariat for the GAELP, whose purpose is “to prevent children’s exposure to lead via paint containing lead, and to minimize occupational exposures to lead in paint.”

Nagkaisa co-convenor Josua Mata urged the government to take the necessary action to gain the benefits of the review process initiated by the ILO’s governing board.

“It’s been over nine decades since C013 [came] into force, and lead poisoning via exposure to lead contaminated paint chips, dust, as well as products such as toys remains a huge threat for the health of children and workers in many countries,” ALU-TUCP Spokesman and Policy Advocacy Officer Allan Tanjusay said.

According to labor and environmental groups, C013 has to be updated to make it applicable to all lead pigments and dryers, ready-to-use paint, and exterior applications.

They also insisted that the two-percent limit — equivalent to 20,000 parts per million (ppm) — has to be radically lowered to mirror current knowledge of the health effects of lead exposure even at lower levels.
An updated C013 will be a boost to the recently promulgated “Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds” (CCO) issued by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources last December 2013, the groups said.

The CCO limits lead content in paints to 90 ppm, and establishes a three-year phase out period for leaded decorative paints (2013-2016), and a six-year phase out period for leaded industrial paints (2013-2019).

Seventy-six percent of the 803 paint samples from the Philippines and six other Asian countries contained lead at concentrations greater than 90 ppm, and would not be permitted for sale in most highly industrialized countries, according to data from the Asia Regional Paint Report published last March 2014 by the International Persistent Organic Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), with support from the European Union.

The report also revealed that at least a quarter of the 803 paint samples contained dangerously high lead levels of above 10,000 ppm. – by Chito A. Chavez / Manila Bulletin

Scrapping minimum wage to expose workers to abuse, virtualslavery—labor groups

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MANILA, Philippines—Labor groups in the country cautioned government policy makers on Tuesday against lifting the minimum wage requirement, saying that doing so would expose workers to abuse.

Alan Tanjusay, spokesperson of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), said the minimum wage has been serving as the minimum standard to protect workers’ interests, and improve the quality of labor.

“If there is no minimum wage, workers will be very vulnerable to abuse and oppression,” said Tanjusay. “There has to be a standard such as the minimum wage. Otherwise, we will revert back to the age of slavery.”

Julius Cainglet, Federation of Free Workers (FFW)’s assistant vice president for Research, Communication, Networking and Project Development, on the other hand, said PIDS’ views were not new.

“The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have been saying that for years. The think tank’s research seems wanting as it failed to consider the real state of workers,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a text message.

“The minimum wage is but a meager social protection for workers. Present minimum wage rates in Metro Manila could not even cover half the required income needed to afford your family a decent life. Besides, the minimum wage is much smaller in the provinces where a lot of investors set up manufacturing plants,” he said.

“Abolishing the minimum wage would only work if workers have a voice, that is if the majority of them are unionized. We know how employers do everything to bust unions.

Without a minimum wage to bank on and a union to fight for their rights to just wages, benefits and better working conditions, the government is opening the floodgates for even more exploitation of workers. We will end up with workers receiving alms and getting employed for no more than five months,” added Cainglet.

The FFW official urged the government to instead look at improving the environment for doing business in the country, which would significantly impact the capacity of businesses to employ more workers and pay wages.

“What is pushing down employment is the high cost of doing business. For one, the country’s power rates are the highest in Asia. Add the fact that there are mounting fees, permits and impossible requirements when applying for a new business or renewing permits for the same. It is a nightmare in fact,” said Cainglet.

“The FFW believes that this is what curtails employment more and not the minimum wage. We would want to abolish the wage boards for the right reasons like for being insensitive to the needs of workers. But removing the minimum wage right now will only deprive workers even more of their just share in the country’s economic growth,” he added. - By Tina G. Santos |Philippine Daily Inquirer

Call center workers urged to form unions

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MANILA, Philippines—To protect their welfare as workers and to take advantage of the full benefits of their labor, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has urged young professionals particularly workers in the information technology sector to join or form unions.

“I encourage yuppies particularly those in call centers to join or create unions so they can have a voice in their work…,” said Gerard Seno, executive vice president of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) in a statement.

Through unions, Seno said workers can “negotiate a contract like fair and safe workplace, better wages, a secure retirement or separation pay, family-oriented policies such as paid sick leave and other benefits.”

Because call center workers handle delicate jobs, Seno said they must be compensated substantially.

“Workers in the call center industry are also considered one of the most vulnerable workers because they work at night when their bodies are supposed to sleep,” he said.

“Customer service representatives, for example, interact mostly with stressful customers. So they should get more in terms of wages and benefits because of the precarious characteristics of their work. They can maximize what they can get through a union. And we have union organizers who will assist them in every step of the way,” he added.

According to him, “gone are the days when unions are perceived obstructionist.”

“Management today should look at forming unions as a way to promote productive workforce that provides better services and products. They should treat unions as a way of meeting the needs of their workforce in this modern age of flexible and non-traditional work environments,” he said.

TUCP said there are 1.04 million BPO workers in the Philippines as of September 2014.

Bill filed in Congress

In 2013, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed a Magna Carta for Call Center Workers.

The bill seeks to enforce the rights of call center workers to organize unions to have safe and healthy working environments given the long hours they spend at their work stations.
Santiago expressed alarm over reports that business process outsourcing (BPO) companies discouraged labor organizations.

She cited health and occupational safety issues in BPO, adding that the Philippines cannot truly boast about its BPO industry to the world if it does not comply with the most basic of international labor standards. - Nestor Corrales |INQUIRER.net

TUCP bats for P135 wage hike in Metro next month

The country’s largest labor group is considering filing a P135 wage hike in Metro Manila next month to help workers cope with the rising cost of basic commodities and services.

In a text message, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said the tentative amount was based from their assessment on the impact of the high-cost of living in the National Capital Region (NCR) to minimum wage earners.

“Among our primary considerations is the 4.9 percent inflation, which is the highest in 33 months, increase in transportation fares, food prices, and tuition of students,” Tanjusay said.

He said they will finalize the amount for their new wage petition by October during the anniversary date of the implementation of Wage Order No. NCR-18, which raised the minimum wage rates in Metro Manila to P429 to P466.

The previous wage rate in NCR was P399 to P436.

“We are preparing our wage increase petition. We are also trying to improve our lobby efforts to get a significant amount from the wage board,” Tanjusay said.

Last year, TUCP filed an P85 wage petition at the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board of the National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR).

DoLE-NCR director and RTWPB-NCR chairperson Alex Avila said they will wait for the new wage petition before they begin processing a new wage hike in Metro Manila.

Under the wage rules, regional wage boards could only process a new wage petition after the anniversary date of its previous wage order.

“As of now, the Board has not yet received any new petition,” Avila said. - by Samuel Medenilla - Manila Bulletin