Tag Archives: Workers

[Statement] Red-tagged labor rights NGO filed a complaint at CHR | CTUHR

Red-tagged labor rights NGO filed a complaint at CHR

On June 14, 2022, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) formally filed a complaint at the Commission on Human Rights, a week after it publicly denounced the malicious statements made by elements of the NTF-ELCAC against their institution.

In its complaint, CTUHR narrated that they received a report that they have been red-tagged in the program, “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” aired last June 6, 2022. One of the topics discussed in the said episode was “Labor Infiltration Operations of CPP-NDF-NPA in CALABARZON, Central Luzon and NCR,” where they zoomed in on the strike conducted by J&T Express workers in Cabuyao, Laguna.

The guest Charlie “Steve Alejandro” Ponclara and one of the hosts Jeffrey “Eric” Celiz, in a series of exchanges, purported that the strike of the workers was illegal and that they were infiltrated and instigated by operatives of the CPP-NPA-NDF. CTUHR was tagged as one of these, together with Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan – Kilusang Mayo Uno (PAMANTIK-KMU).

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[Press Release] Wage hike for all workers and oil subsidy for PUV drivers amid oil price hikes | EILER

Wage hike for all workers and oil subsidy for PUV drivers amid oil price hikes – EILER

Labor NGO Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) calls on the government to increase the minimum wage and immediately release the oil subsidy for PUV drivers amid incessant oil price hikes due to the worsening geopolitical situation and the highly speculative nature of the market.

“Ordinary Filipinos should not bear the brunt of these oil price hikes. The government should ensure that enough safety nets are in place for the public transport drivers and commuters and that there are subsidies for MSMEs so that they can cope with the increase in prices,” said EILER Executive Director Rochelle Porras.

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[Statement] Ipaglaban ang substansyal na dagdag sahod sa panahon ng krisis sa kalusugan at kabuhayan | BMP

Ipaglaban ang substansyal na dagdag sahod sa panahon ng krisis sa kalusugan at kabuhayan

Ang Bukluran ay nananawagan sa lahat ng mga samahan ng manggagawa na igiit ang substansyal na pagtataas sa minimum na sahod. Ito ay kagyat na kahilingang hindi na makakapaghintay pa sa pagpapalit ng rehimen matapos ang halalan sa Mayo.

Napako ang minimum na sweldo habang patuloy ang pagtaas sa mga batayang pangangailangan ng mga pamilya ng maggagawa. May mga regional wage boards na ang huling kautusan ay noon pang 2018 (see table).

Ang minimum na sahod ay nananatiling malayo sa Konstitusyunal na garantiya para sa living wage. Ito ay kahit pa ang “demand for a living wage” ang numero uno sa dapat na sampung batayan ng wage board sa pagtatakda ng minimum wage, ayon sa RA6727 o Wage Rationalization Act.

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[Statement] BIDA BIDA SA SAYA | SPARK

#HumanRights #Workers

BEEAST EMPLOYERS

BIDA BIDA SA SAYA

Kamakailan lamang inilabas ng Forbes Magazine ang listahan nila ng ‘di umano world’s “best employers” para sa taong 2021. Sa 750 na mga kumpanya, iba’t ibang higanteng korporasyon ang napabilang dito kagaya na lang ng Samsung Electronics, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, at Apple na limang nangungunang employers sa nasabing listahan. Kabilang rin sa naturang listahan ang binansagang “3 Philippine blue chips” Jollibee Food Corporation sa pwestong 256th habang ang Ayala Corp. ay nasa 487th at Aboitiz Equity Ventures naman sa 665th.

Habang ang mga kumpanyang ito ay humahalakhak sa tuwa ay marami pa ring empleyado mula sa Jollibee Foods Corporation ang patuloy na nagdurusa base na rin sa kanilang mabigat na karanasan sa kanilang pagtatrabaho sa dambuhalang kumpanyang ito. Ang karaniwang hinaing ng mga empleyado rito ay ang labis na trabaho ngunit kakarampot na sahod at ang hindi natatapos na kontraktwalisasyon na siyang lubid-sakal sa mga trabahador ng JFC.

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[Press Release] Labor NGO urges DTI to put on hold price increases | EILER

#HumanRights #Workers

Labor NGO urges DTI to put on hold price increases

A Labor NGO urges the Department of Trade and Industry to put on hold the price increases of basic necessities which are set at 3-5 percent.

The Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) emphasizes that instead of price increases, the government should immediately provide additional support to MSMEs, improve vaccine roll-out, provide wage relief to the workers, and ayuda for all affected as ECQ will be implemented by the end of the week.

“The number of jobless Filipinos has increased in June. Given the spread of the Delta variant and considering that many workers have not recovered from losing their jobs, the price increases will make it more difficult for the workers and the working poor to live decently,” said EILER Executive Director Rochelle Porras.

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[From the web] Rising unemployment shows Duterte admin’s failed economic policies | EILER

Rising unemployment shows Duterte admin’s failed economic policies

The increase in unemployment rate in the recent Labor Force Survey (LFS) shows the Duterte administration’s neoliberal agenda and failed economic policies further worsened the labor situation amid the pandemic, according to a labor NGO.

The Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) said that while the imposition of stricter lockdowns during the previous quarter is seen as the immediate cause, the government’s neglect of local industries and its dependence on foreign businesses is the primary reason for the rising unemployment and precarious working conditions.

The LFS released by the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) for April 2021 shows the unemployment rate rose to 8.7% from 7.1% last March. That translates to 4.14 million unemployed Filipinos. Underemployment rose to 17.2% or 7.45 million from 16.2% last March.

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[From the web] Decision to take back hazard pay of contractual airport workers, unjust | EILER

#HumanRights #Workers

Decision to take back hazard pay of contractual airport workers, unjust

A Labor NGO expresses dismay over the state auditor’s order to recover the hazard pay amounting to P54.36 million given to contractual workers of the Manila International Airport Authority last year. As per the memo released by the service contractor, the retracted hazard pay shall be deducted from workers’ monthly salaries.

The Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) said that the decision is unjust and shows indifference to the plight of contractual workers who are on the frontlines. EILER also added that all workers deserve hazard pay given the risks they face while at work amid the pandemic.

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[From the web] Workers’ Coalition Slams House Urgent Call for Chacha | NAGKAISA

#HumanRights #Workers

Workers’ Coalition Slams House Urgent Call for Chacha

The biggest labor coalition in the country slams the House leadership’s “hell-bent” effort to amend restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution amid the raging fight against CoVID 19 pandemic.

Instead of resuming plenary debates and deliberations on the proposed constitutional amendments in his Resolution of Both House No. 2 (RBH 2) when sessions resume this week, NAGKAISA holds that Speaker Lord Allan Velasco needs to prioritize the passage of the Bayanihan 3 and other measures to help displaced workers and to ease the burden of the CoVID 19 pandemic.

NAGKAISA said it before and will repeat it again that this is not the time for charter change. The money for the charter change campaign should be appropriated for “ayudang sapat para sa mga manggagawang nalaglag sa trabaho o kung may trabaho man ay di nakakapasok sa trabaho.”

First, on procedure, the alleged political “consensus” in the House has no counterpart support in the Senate. Under Article XVII of the Constitution, without the uppet chamber, such initiative is already dead on its track before moving an inch.

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[Statement] Filipino workers suffer the most but struggle the hardest amid the pandemic and economic crisis | EILER

#HumanRights #Workers #Covid19ph

EILER’s Labor Day Statement: Filipino workers suffer the most but struggle the hardest amid the pandemic and economic crisis

We celebrate Labor Day during very trying times. The working class continue to suffer the brunt of the deteriorating health system, and economic crisis due to years of neoliberal impositions further worsened by the pandemic.

One of the most vulnerable sectors to COVID-19 is the working class. The regions with the most concentration of workers are reported to have the highest rate of infection. Workers are forced to go to work without mass testing, effective contact-tracing, and the absence of vaccination.

A year into the pandemic, Philippine economy has not recovered. Yet, despite a -9.6%, GDP growth, workers are still able to create P17.9 trillion in GDP.

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[Statement] Kami ay mga manggagawa din! | KAGULONG

#HumanRights #Workers

Ang pandaigdigang araw ng mga manggagawa ay mahigpit naming niyayakap bilang mga araw din ng mahigit sa 90% mananakay ng motorsiklo.

Kami ay mga manggagawa din!

Bahagi kami ng mahigit apat na milyong walang trabaho o natanggal sa trabaho dahil sa pandemya. Bahagi rin kami ng mahigit anim na milyon na walang maayos o permanenteng mapapasukang trabaho. Katulad ng mga manggagawa at mga maralita, pumipila din kami para makakuha ng kakarampot na ayuda at pumipila din kami sa mga community pantries upang kahit paano ay may maipakain sa aming pamilya.

Katulad nila umasa din kami na mawawala na ang endo endo sa ilalim ng administrasyong ito, dahil karamihan din sa amin ay mga kontraktwal. Kaso binola lang pala tayo ng palpak na presidenteng ito at vineto niya ang batas na magwawakas sana sa endo.

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[Press Release] EcoWaste Coalition Fights for Waste Workers’ Occupational Safety and Health as COVID-19 Cases Breach One Million Mark

#HumanRights #Workers #Safety #Health

EcoWaste Coalition Fights for Waste Workers’ Occupational Safety and Health as COVID-19 Cases Breach One Million Mark

As COVID-19 cases in the country breached the one million mark, a waste and pollution watchdog group called attention to the necessity of segregating waste at source to promote and protect the occupational safety and health of waste workers.

In a statement issued on the eve of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, the EcoWaste Coalition emphasized the need to separate COVID-19 waste and other pathogenic waste from recyclable and compostable materials to keep waste workers, especially the informal recyclers, safe from harm caused by exposure to the novel coronavirus and other pathogens.

“We reiterate our plea to all waste generators to separate discarded materials at the point of generation to keep our environmental frontliners such as the waste workers safe from COVID-19 and other diseases,” stated Jove Benosa, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.

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[Press Release] A year under lockdown: workers’ condition worse than before | EILER

#HumanRights #Workers #COVID19ph

A year under lockdown: workers’ condition worse than before — labor NGO

The Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) is dismayed at the government’s failed pandemic response and for leaving the workers behind, a year after implementing the Enhanced Community Quarantine or ECQ.

Recent government data showed an increase in the annual unemployment rate up to 10.3 per cent, the highest recorded annual unemployment in 15 years (2020 Annual Preliminary Estimates of LFS). Before this, the unemployment rate reached an all-time high of 17.7% in April of 2020.

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[From the web] ‘Stop the killings!’- Labor NGO seeks justice for the murder of union leader Leonardo Escala -EILER

#HumanRights #Workers

‘Stop the killings!’- Labor NGO seeks justice for the murder of union leader Leonardo Escala

Screen Grabbed from Eiler.ph

The Ecumenical Institute of Labor Education and Research (EILER) condemns the brutal murder of Leonardo “Ka Esca” Escala, union president of the port operator International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) last February 7, in Tondo Manila.

Under Escala’s leadership, the union the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa sa Pantalan Incorporated (NMPI)-ICTSI under the National Federation of Labor Unions (NAFLU), fought for labor rights and humane working conditions.

Because of his convictions, he constantly received death threats.

Read complete article @eiler.ph

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[Press Release] Pagpapapirma ng bagong kontrata, tinututulan ng mga manggagawa! Job security at trabahong regular, dinipensahan! -AMBA BALA

#HumanRights #JobSecurity

Pagpapapirma ng bagong kontrata, tinututulan ng mga manggagawa! Job security at trabahong regular, dinipensahan!

‘Pinabalik, pinag-antay, pinaasa at ngayon ay minamaniobra ng kapitalista ng Desktop ang mga manggagawa!’ galit na pahayag ng DEA o Desktop Enployees’ Association, habang nag-aabang sa labas ng pasilidad ng Desktop Bags Company sa loob ng Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) ang higit-kumulang sa isangdaan (100) manggagawa, at naghihintay na kausapin sila ng mga kinatawan ng management o HR ng Desktop company ngayong araw ng Lunes, Ika-1 ng Pebrero, 2021. Ang Desktop Bags ay isa sa mga gumagawa ng mga high end fashion bags sa loob ng AFAB.

Matatandaan na nito lamang Enero 22, 2021 ay nagpatawag ng General Assembly ang management ng kumpanya na kung saan ay binanggit ang pansamantalang pagsasara ng Desktop subalit sisiguruhin na ang kumpanya ay aalinsunod sa mga batas ng paggawa at pagkilala sa karapatan ng mga manggagawa.

‘Kabaligtaran ang mga sinasabi ng kumpanya sa mga hakbang na ginagawa nito, nitong Enero 29, 2021, pinapipirma kaming mga manggagawa ng Temporary Employment Contract na nagsasaad ng limang (5) buwang pagtatrabaho sa DLX na sister-company ng Desktop’, ani ni Rosita Canoza, manggawa ng Desktop at kasapi ng DEA. “Ang ibig sabihin bagong hired kami simula Enero hanggang Mayo sa DLX. Bakit kailangan pa kaming papirmahin gayong inilipat lang kami sa sarili din nitong kumpanya? Nung itinayo ang DLX nung 2016, may mga manggagawa sa Desktop na inilipat sa DLX pero nagpatuloy lang sa kanilang length of service. Ganito din ang nangyari ngayon, bakit kailangan naming pumirma sa bagong kontrata na gagawin kaming kontraktwal? Mga regular na manggagawa kami kaya hindi dapat na tinuturing kaming bagong empleyado nang iisang kumpanya.”, turan pa ni Rosita, DEA member.

Ang pagpirma sa bagong kontrata ay mangangahulugan na may bagong kumpanya o employer ang mga manggagawa at ang katayuan nito ay contractual.
“Nagmamaniobra ang kumpanya, tinatakasan nito ang obligasyon niya sa mga manggagawang regular. Dapat lamang na kilalanin ang continuity ng length of service ng manggagawa kung inilipat lang naman sa sarili din nitong kumpanya DLX. Security of tenure at ang length of service na matagal na pinagtrabahuan ng manggagawa ang nais putulin ng kumpanya na lumalabag sa karapatan ng manggagawa bilang regular. Masakit pa ay ginagamit na panakot ang hindi pagpirma sa bagong kontrata upang patawan ng forced leave at hindi bibigyan ng pink pass upang hindi makapasok sa loob ng AFAB,” ani ni Elpidio Avellanoza, Secretary ng DEA.

“Ang tanging nais ng manggagawa ay makabalik sa trabaho na nawala dahil sa pandemya. Pero hindi tama na samantalahin ng kumpanya ang krisis na ito upang ipatupad ang mga hakbang na labag sa karapatan ng manggagawa tulad ng pagiging regular at magkaroon ng mga benepisyo sa ilalim ng CBA”, sambit pa ni Elpidio Avellanoza.

“Habang marami pa ring manggagawa ng DLX company na parehong gumagawa ng bags at sister company ng Desktop na parehong nasa ilalim ng Luen Thai Group (LNT Group of Companies), ang hindi pinababalik sa trabaho, tapos, mag-eemploy ito ng manggagawang contractual? Anong pagmamaniobra ito ng kumpanya? Inuunawa natin na dumaan din sila sa krisis pero hindi tama na pabayaan nating labagin ang karapatan ng manggagawa”, mariing sambit pa ni Elpidio.

Sa kasalukuyan ay naghihintay pa rin ang mga manggagawa ng tugon mula sa management ng Desktop kaugnay sa sitwasyong kinakaharap ng mga manggagawa.

Press release
Reference: Elpidio Avellanoza
Secretary, Desktop Employees Association (DEA) / AMBA-WPL
Contact Numbers: 09481893528

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[Press Release] The Philippines lags behind achieving decent work – EILER

The Philippines lags behind achieving decent work – EILER

The country falls further behind on the Decent Work Agenda, according to Labor NGO Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER).

Citing ITUC Global Rights Index 2020 and Global Witness Report, EILER noted that the Philippines is considered one of the most dangerous countries for workers, and the second-worst worldwide for environmental and land rights defenders.

“The trade unions are vital in reviving the economy, but our unions are under attack. They are victims of union-busting, red-tagging, harassment, and the many barriers in organizing and exercise of freedom of association. These violent attacks on workers and trade unionists amid the pandemic also affect workers’ organizations and labor institutions leading local responses, specifically working towards addressing the abovementioned global effects of COVID-19 to employment and livelihood. We are, at present, farther from achieving the Decent Work Agenda and sustainable economy,” EILER Executive Director Rochelle Porras said.

EILER also cited the ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the world of work 5th Edition report stating that over 400 million full-time jobs have been lost and hundreds of millions of informal workers have lost their livelihoods globally. This means that millions of more workers are pushed further into extreme poverty.

“As the global employment crisis deepens, women and young workers are hit the hardest. More and more youths are forced to engage in irregular, precarious, or intermittent employment. In the Philippines, rampant contractualization, the two-tier wage system, inadequate decent job opportunities, and lack of access to free education have prevented the youth to break away from vulnerable employment,” Porras said.

“The effects of the pandemic on regular employment, living wages, gender equality, and occupational safety and health are worsened by neoliberal globalization. We must do away with neoliberal policies and prioritize acting on the legitimate demands of the workers including free mass testing, guaranteed income, social protection, and upholding of freedom of association, collective bargaining rights, OSH, and other labor rights,” Porras concluded.

NEWS RELEASE
7 October 2020
Reference: Ms. Rochelle Porras, EILER Executive Director, +63 920 127 6491

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[Press Release] Drop in unemployment rate encouraging but not enough -NAGKAISA

Drop in unemployment rate encouraging but not enough

The reported drop in unemployment rate from 17.7% in April to 10% in July is natural because the economy opened. However, compared to unemployment in July 2019, the current level of unemployment remains high as a result of the economic crisis due to the pandemic and the government’s conservative approach to recovery.

The reported jobs recovery, especially those tied mainly to market responses, will not be enough to cut the unemployment rate further by the end of this year or until 2021 without more aggressive stimulus program.

First, wage and salary employment especially in private establishments remain short by 1.9 million compared to its level in July 2019 when economic conditions were normal. Second, jobs recovery occurred in self-employment and unpaid family work: self-employment increased by 563 thousand while unpaid family workers increased by 550 thousand. Third, underemployment is higher by 1.3 million in July 2020 compared to its level in July 2019. The fact that underemployment rate still increased from 13.6% in July 2019 to 17.3% in July 2020 and because this coincides with increase in self-employment means that although workers found employment, the income they earn from work is not enough so they are forced to look for additional work. These trends also imply that many firms have not yet recovered from the economic crisis.

A more aggressive public employment program (PEP) and support for struggling firms especially MSMEs , we believe, is the bold and necessary action the government must undertake to address massive job displacement, recover lost jobs and create new employment opportunities based on defined social needs.

The unemployment rate in NCR, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon remain in double digit, while the underemployment rate in most parts of the country hardly moved down. And we fear that both the unemployment and underemployment numbers may still be affected by business decisions this month when employers decide on whether to keep their workers floating or not as required under the 6-month rule under DOLE’s Labor Advisory No. 17.

Jobs generated under emergency employment being implemented under TUPAD, at this point in time, cannot significantly address the unemployment problem of displaced workers as it only provides 10 to not longer than 30 days of temporary employment. We demand that a more elaborate TUPAD, or a new adequately funded PEP that is attuned to new social tasks or imperatives be rolled out under the 2021 budget and the process in making this happen be made participatory.

PEPs have been an effective program in addressing unemployment and poverty many jurisdictions worldwide like in the case of India and South Africa. Lessons and best practices can be learned from their experience as well as with our own implementation of temporary employment programs since the 60s. A Bayanihan for Work can be specifically designed to address this need.

We also demand more aggressive support for struggling firms, many of which are MSMEs. The state must also extend support to firms to help them restructure their workplaces to ensure that they do not become transmission hotspots for COVID-19. We also urge the government to strictly impose health and safety regulations in workplaces, after all, COVID-19 remains a health crisis.

Source of data: PSA. Available at: https://psa.gov.ph/content/employment-situation-july-2020. Accessed 3 September 2020.
PRESS RELEASE
NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition
3 September 2020

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[Press Release] Broadest labor groups unite against Duterte Regime, will march as one at #SONAgkaisa

Photo from BMP FB page

Broadest labor groups unite against Duterte Regime, will march as one at #SONAgkaisa

Days after Manila Police attempted to thwart their State of the Labor Address (SOLA) in front of the DOLE, leaders and representatives of UNITED WORKERS – the broadest alliance of trade unions, federations, and labor centers in the country – announced in a virtual presser their unified action against the Duterte Regime in the upcoming #SONAgkaisa protest.

The group – composed of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition, and Pagkakaisa ng Uring Manggagawa (PAGGAWA) – vehemently condemed the adminstration for its anti-worker policies in the last 4 years, especially its failed response to the pandemic-induced health and economic crisis.

SONAtigl ang trabaho

United Workers underscored the lack of social protection programs to the millions rendered unemployed by the crisis as well as DOLE’s recent anti-worker issuances.

NAGKAISA! Chairperson and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Sonny Matula said: “We call on the DOLE to junk Department Order 213, which suspends labor inspections and legal proceedings that workers can avail of to protect their rights, and Labor Advisory 17, which encourages companies to reduce wages and benefits.”

“These policies unjustly favor employers over workers. It reflects the current administration’s disposition towards our country’s economic recovery, which prioritizes profits over the welfare of workers,” the labor lawyer continued.

SONAwala ang ayuda at suporta sa manggagawa

Among the speakers from the virtual presser were several unionists, each one expressing their deep disapproval of the administration’s handling of the crisis for workers.
JR Yulchiro Cruz of the ABS-CBN Rank and File Employee’s Union denounced the wanton lack of compassion that the government showed the more than 11,000 employees that will lose their jobs due to Congress’ non-renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise.

St. Luke’s Medical Center Employees Association President Jao Clumia rebuked the administration’s lack of support to our hospitals and medical frontliners. According to Clumia, the shortage of PPE’s, insufficient mass testing, and the necessity for paid leaves, hazard pay, free transportation, and stress debriefing for all medical workers are things that President Duterte can provide by decree but did not.

Piston President Mody Floranda expressed the deep frustration of jeepney drivers out of work due to the Government’s exploitation of the pandemic to ram through their anti-poor PUV modernization program.

SeJung Apparel Union President Jopay Odchimar, an ecozone worker, emphasized how the lockdown favored capitalists over workers. Their union’s picket-protest against their management’s union-busting (in the guise of a temporary shutdown) was dispersed by police using the lockdown as an excuse.

Ka Jhun Tulabot of the Coca-Cola Rank and File Union bared how the government’s policies emboldened employers to abuse workers, citing as an example their employer’s attempt to union-bust by accusing union officials of industrial sabotage by merely calling a meeting.

SONAgwelga

The group also decried the passage of the Terror Law and the expansion of contractualization schemes concomitant with mass lay-offs and retrenchments.

PAGGAWA and National Confederation of Labor (NCL) General-Secretary Ka Glecy Naquita stressed that Rodrigo Duterte only has himself to blame if workers decide to rely on themselves and resort to drastic actions such as “a general strike as an act of self-defense” in the last two years of his tenure as Philippine president.

The veteran labor activist said, “Workers’ rights and welfare are facing a genocide. A pandemic threatens our very lives. Millions are thrown out of work and face reduced wages due to job rotation and contractualization schemes. Hunger and destitution face a population that has been denied immediate relief, adequate health facilities, and mass testing. The terror law threatens the only protection for ordinary citizens against abuses of the rich and powerful – the rights to free speech, peacefully assembly, self-organization and lawful concerted actions. Now, with a senate bill (Tito Sotto’s SB No. 1515) that gets employers off the hook from any obligation to their COVID-infected employees, they are denying the basic right to occupational health and safety to our workers!”

SONAgkaisa laban kay Duterte

Kilusang Mayo Uno Chairperson Elmer Labog bared that the Anti-Terrorism Law will most likely trigger a massive wave of union-busting and give way to killings, illegal arrest and detention, harassment and threats, and criminalization of strikes.

Labog further called for the broadest unity possible among the ranks of the working class and the Filipino people to combat the tyranny and fascism of the Duterte Regime.

“Four years is more than enough! The workers and the people can no longer stand living under this oppressive and murderous regime. We must unite in order to reject this administration and bring about a brighter future for every Filipino,” he added.

The labor groups under United Workers will march together at the #SONAgkaisa protest actions on July 27.

References:
Elmer Labog, KMU Chairperson
Julius Cainglet, Nagkaisa!
Leody de Guzman, Paggawa Spokesperson

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[Press Release] Labor NGO underscores PUV phaseout will not help the real drivers of PH economy

Labor NGO underscores PUV phaseout will not help the real drivers of PH economy

Lifting the restrictions of quarantine after disrupting the livelihood of millions takes a huge blow in the economy and will further topple down if workers from the transport sector are being pushed to their extremes, according to Labor NGO Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER).

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Memorandum Circular 2020-017 discusses the relatively numerous requirements for the public transportation special permit for areas under the General Community Quarantine including that drivers should be part of consortiums or cooperatives, and must purchase the modernized jeepney for those who have the 2009 models and older.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) can’t even include yet the transportation sector loses in its May 22 report entitled We Recover As One as the head of technical working group focused on the economy this pandemic. It was mentioned that Enhanced Community Quarantine has had a major impact on the said sector.

Around P1.1 trillion in a total loss, which comprises 5.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, was reported by NEDA since the start of the quarantine excluding the transport sector; which furthers the argument as to how much worse the economy can be.

“Today, the workers experienced a worse public transport crisis. The DOTr is taking advantage of the COVID pandemic to push its anti-poor policies, including phasing out of the jeepneys without concrete livelihood plans for the hundreds of thousands of jeepney drivers and operators,” Executive Director Rochelle Porras said.

The government’s action to push the businesses to resume their operations without mass testing also endangers the lives of the workers.

“If the government and businesses want to resume operations, they should provide safe and efficient public transportation for workers. It is unjust that the workers are made to suffer from walking for hours over long distances. The proposed jeepney modernization program of the Duterte administration will result in fare hikes for commuters and further massive displacement of jeepney drivers,” Porras added.

NEWS RELEASE
1 June 2020
Reference: Ms. Rochelle Porras, EILER Executive Director, +63 920 127 6491

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[From the web] Labor group urges DOLE and DTI to allow more worker involvement in safeguarding workplace from COVID-19 -BMP

Labor group urges DOLE and DTI to allow more worker involvement in safeguarding workplace from COVID-19

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) admonished the return-to-work guidelines released last April 30 by the DOLE and DTI for not having enough teeth in ensuring the health and safety of workers eager to recover their livelihoods.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello released the Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19 with the professed aim to assist private companies that are allowed to operate during the ECQ and GCQ in developing health protocols and standards in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Repeating the IATF’s recommendation to implement alternative work arrangements, these guidelines also encouraged disinfection processes, distribution and usage of PPE’s among workers, isolation areas for workers with symptoms, and monthly health reports submitted to DOLE regional offices. Workers are also discouraged from engaging in conversation, as well as prolonged face to face interaction.

BMP President Luke Espiritu said “most of these guidelines provide effective measures to prevent COVID-19 from entering the workplace. However, it is crucial to ask how DOLE and DTI will be able to ensure strict employer compliance when the guidelines stop short of establishing penalties for companies who refuse or do not comply?”

“If there’s anything that we can learn from the DOLE’s experience of administering the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) during the ECQ, it’s that the DOLE cannot rely on the ‘goodwill’ of employers in ensuring the safety and welfare of workers. How many Filipino workers have not received CAMP because their employers did not reach out to the DOLE and apply? DOLE relied on the voluntary application of employers as the sole machinery to administer CAMP to the workers. This resulted in the exclusion of millions of workers from being CAMP beneficiaries. It would be very unconscionable for the DOLE to trust employers to comply with these new return-to-work guidelines given their recent track record,” Espiritu added.

Espiritu bared that the solution to ensure the health and safety of both managements and workers going back to work is more worker involvement in planning and implementing safety guidelines.

“This is the same prescription BMP gave to Secretary Bello for CAMP. Allow unions and the rest of organized labor to share in the responsibility of safeguarding their workplaces from COVID-19. The track record of labor organizations during the ECQ is far superior to that of capitalists. They have organized relief operations and coordinated with communities to pressure government to properly distribute sufficient aid. The spirit of bayanihan, which the Duterte Administration is fond of peddling, is genuinely exemplified not in our politicians or employers, but in the activities of workers. They can surely enforce the return-to-work guidelines much better and more efficiently than their bosses because it is they who are more affected by the crisis” Espiritu bared.

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[Video] Watch now! LIVE – SILANG MGA KALASAG. Pagkilala.Pagkumusta.Pakikiisa sa mga #frontliners sa gitna ng #CoVid19 -iDEFEND & PAHRA

SILANG MGA KALASAG.
Pagkilala.Pagkumusta.Pakikiisa sa mga frontliners sa gitna ng CoVid

iDEFEND Live

May 2, 2020, 4:00PM/ SEE LINKS.
SILANG MGA KALASAG

Kasama sina:

Dr. Faith Mesa Gaerlan
Emergency Room Consultant

Dr katerina Abiertas
Municipal Health Officer , Motiong, Samar
President, Samar AMHOP

Dr. Ela Romano
Psychiatrist ,
Bicol Medical Center

Dr. Nemuel Fajutagana
Chairperson,
Medical Action Group

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