EDITORIAL
There is a recent worldwide survey that confirms what we already know: that the Philippines is again among the world’s 10 worst countries for workers.
This reality was indicated in the 2024 Global Rights Index of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Based on the survey, the country is one of the countries worldwide where workers are “exposed to unfair labor practices” and “have no access to their rights.” These countries are Bangladesh, Belarus, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Guatemala, Myanmar, Tunisia, Turkey and the Philippines.
Let us not dance around on this matter. It is not surprising to anyone that the Philippines is among the countries with the least respect and caring for labor, a very important sector in the national effort to prop up the economy and achieve economic growth.
Transport workers have experienced first hand this condescending treatment from the government, in the case of the public utility vehicles modernization program. The issues surrounding this initiative to modernize are still being taken up by transport workers in the streets—through mass actions, tigil-pasada, strikes and rallies. They also tried to fight it out in the courts, with a case filed in the Supreme Court awaiting a ruling.
One reason for the Filipino workers’ getting the short end of the bargain is that the nation’s top official on labor has been perceived to be ineffective in fighting for the rights and privileges of the labor sector.
Even Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, when he was Senate President, slammed Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma when he cautioned lawmakers and took the position that a legislated wage increase for workers nationwide could have an adverse impact on the business sector.
Secretary Laguesma, known to air similar positions in the past, this time reiterated to members of Congress that granting an across-the-board legislated wage hike could displace workers, increase prices of essential goods and result in a decline in domestic product growth.
This public statement led labor groups to call for the resignation of Laguesma, saying he has become the “employers’ poster boy” against the legislated wage hike.
In separate statements, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) called on Laguesma to step down since he refuses to look after the welfare of the working class.
The DOLE head explained that only a few companies might be able to comply with the proposal to legislate increased wages because the majority of the companies in the country are micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Zubiri noted that Laguesma’s pronouncement runs counter with “the President’s own statement” that a review of wage rates should be in place amid the rising inflation.
“I’m saddened and shocked to hear the statement of the Secretary of Labor in objecting to higher wages for the labor sector. It is obvious by the President’s own statement on the review of wages that the Secretary has failed to protect workers’ interests and would rather speak for the interests of the business sector whom we, in the legislature, have already given several tax breaks and incentives through recent legislations,” Zubiri said.
He said Laguesma should have supported the President’s announcement rather than go his own way as if protecting the interests of businessmen. Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr., Zubiri and others have backed the Senate-approved bill giving a wage increase of P100 to workers.
It is small wonder that our country has been included in the ITUC study’s 10 worst countries for workers since 2017. In the 2024 Global Rights Index, the country obtained a rating of five as workers are found to have “no guarantee of rights.” The Philippines was given the same rating in ITUC’s review in 2023.
It likewise noted that unions and unionists in the country face many challenges, citing alleged obstacles in union formation and the deaths of trade unionists.
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