Labor groups to hold international mission on mining

Amid heightened labor rights violations in mining sites and environmental destruction due to widespread mining operations in the Philippines, six labor organizations in the country joined together to hold this year’s International Solidarity Mission on Mining (ISMM) beginning today, April 25 to May 2, 2012.

Organized by the Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP), integrated Philippine Electronics Network (iPEN), Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), Institute for Occupational Health Safety and Development (IOHSAD), Crispin B. Beltran Resource Center (CBBRC) and the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), the ISMM will take place in mining areas in two regions, Cordillera and Caraga, which are both considered mining hotspots.

Foreign delegates coming from labor groups in South Korea, United States, Belgium, Australia, Japan and Germany will be joining the ISMM “to examine the extent of plunder of large-scale mining operations specifically those implemented by transnational companies” and to “to look into ways on how communities and workers can be protected from the destruction engendered by mining operations.”

By visiting mining spots in the abovementioned regions, the ISMM specifically aims to “assess the impacts of mining operations in the 1) communities’ employment, environment and livelihood vis-à-vis revenues generated or the profitability of the multinational mining companies 2) economic status and working conditions of the workers in the mines such as their wages, benefits and health and safety conditions and 3) trade union rights of workers especially with regard to fundamental principles and rights at work in line with the international labor standards and international humanitarian law.”

Delegates are also expected “to share experiences about mining campaigns and workers’ struggles from different countries” and “create avenues for international solidarity of mine workers and contribute in the strengthening of the struggle of Filipino workers in the mining industry.”

An orientation for the ISMM delegates will be held this afternoon, April 25, at the National Council of Churches of the Philippines Conference Room in the NCCP Building along EDSA near Quezon Ave. in Quezon City. The delegates will then be divided into two groups to do the actual mission on mining sites in the Cordillera and Caraga from April 26 to April 29.
The mission is expected to “come up with resolutions and recommendations that will further step up the campaign against destructive mining operations in the Philippines.” The findings and recommendation of the mission will be presented publicly on April 30 at 9am in the morning at Kowloon Restaurant in West Ave. Quezon City. Policymakers and other stakeholders in the mining industry are expected to come to the public presentation of the ISMM report.

On May 1, the mission delegates will then be joining the Labor Day mobilization in Manila to register the issues of mine workers as well as to demonstrate unity with the entire labor movement. ###

for Reference:
Mr. Reden Alcantara, Secretary General, Metal Workers Alliance of the Philippines, +63928.248.2211
Ms. Daisy Arago, Executive Director, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, +632.411.0256

NEWS RELEASE
25 April 2012

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