PH among 'worst countries' for workers amid rising abuses – think tank

CNN Philippines | July 6

The Philippines is among the worst countries for laborers, the International Trade Union Confederation
(ITUC) said in a report.

The group's 2021 Global Rights Index said there is "no guarantee" of workers’ rights in the country.

ITUC also identified Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Honduras, Myanmar, Turkey and
Zimbabwe as countries with dismal labor conditions.

The Brussels-based think tank cited killings and attacks on trade union leaders, arbitrary arrests, limited
access to justice, union busting, and a ban on worker strikes.

"Trade unionists, maliciously red-tagged by President Duterte with even extrajudicial killings sanctioned
in his speeches, remain under immediate threat of the police and the army, which conducted targeted
raids against them," the report said, noting that 28 labor representatives have been illegally detained
while seven were killed in the past year alone.

Across the globe, ITUC said the pandemic is being used as another excuse to stifle employee freedoms.

Meanwhile, the private sector discredited these findings.

"We know it’s not true," said Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr., president of the Employers Confederation of the
Philippines.

"Number one, dito sa Pilipinas ngayon you will notice halos walang strike – not because they are
forbidden to strike but because I think workers prefer not to strike," Ortiz-Luis pointed out.

"It does not show, it does not speak of what’s happening on the ground," he added, citing a cordial
relationship between employers and workers.

The report also flagged the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act, which they believe may be used to harass
workers and groups speaking out against government and employer abuses.

ITUC said the law "granted even more extended powers to the police and the military to attack and
harass workers and trade union activists."

Labor groups agreed with the ITUC's observations, with the two largest organizations in the country
having previously reported violations of workers' rights.

“Aside from rampant violations on general labor standards and basic occupational safety and health
standards, abusive employers now use the COVID-19 pandemic as excuse to stifle workers trying to
organize as a union to collectively negotiate and bargain for better wages and working conditions," said
Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

"So, we are not surprised that the Philippines will continue to be worst place for workers particularly
during pandemic,” he added.

Tanjusay called for the resumption of workplace inspections to ensure that employee rights are
protected and benefits are properly given

Elmer Labog, chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, said laborers -- particularly union leaders -- continue
to be "victims of killings," red-tagging, surveillance and arrests in the hands of authorities.

Daily wage workers flagged a more pressing concern: higher salaries and benefits during the pandemic.
DOLE, ECOP slams Philippines’ inclusion in list of 10 worst countries for workers
UNTV | July 7, 2021

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III countered the report.

According Bello, the Philippines recently assumed the chairmanship position of the International Labor
Organization’s government group.

This means, according to the official, that the government is protecting the rights of workers.

“Kung masama ang ating record sa labor protection paano ako na-elect? Sana hindi ako na-elect. This is
a very clear proof na we are considered as one of the countries who’s respect for union rights and union
members are well protected and recognized,” Bello said.

Meanwhile, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) also opposes the report saying
workers in the country have freedom to express their opinions.

“Dito the labor can say what they want even against the president, even against anybody. They can have
a rally even violation of pandemic walang hinuhuli,” said Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., ECOP President.

Malacañang, meanwhile, said that workers are affected by the pandemic but they will soon recover.

“Naniniwala tayo na habang dumadami ang hanay ng nababakunahan at nabubuksan ang ating
ekonomiya mas bubuti rin ang kalagayan ng mga mangagawa sa ating bayan,” said Presidential
spokesperson Harry Roque.

The government is gradually reopening the economy as it strives to strike a balance between restoring
the livelihood of workers sidelined by lockdowns and containing the pandemic.

The latest ITUC Global Rights Index ranked 149 countries on the degree of respect for workers’ rights.

It concluded that 2021 is a year when democracy "has come under renewed attack" as the number of
countries that impeded the registration of unions rose from 89 last year to 109 and the number of
countries where freedom of speech and assembly was "denied" or "constrained" increased from 56 in
2020 to 64 this year.

According to the report, 87% of countries violated the right to strike, 79% of them violated the right to
collectively bargain, and 74% of countries excluded workers from the right to establish and join a trade
union.

Workers were exposed to violence in 45 countries, had no or restricted access to justice in 65% of
countries, and experienced arbitrary arrests and detention in 68 countries.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated jobs, communities and lives. The Global Rights Index exposes a
shameful roll call of governments and companies that have pursued an anti-union agenda in the face of
workers who have stood on the front line providing essential work to keep economies and communities
functioning," ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow said in a statement.

“When COVID-19 hit, we learned who the heroes are. Workers everywhere cared for the sick, put food
on our tables, and kept the economy moving. But despite all that, workers are under attack like never
before," she added.