Promoting Promoting GHSGHS for for Agriculture, Transport & Agriculture, Transport &

Industrial Workers: Industrial Workers: The TUCP InitiativeThe TUCP Initiative

Rafael E. MapaloRafael E. MapaloTrade Union Congress of the Philippines

The TUCPThe TUCP Founded in 1975, composed of

30 labor federations

Long tradition in providing comprehensive health and welfare services to its members

Has a viable network for the provision of GHS information and training for workers

The TUCPThe TUCP is dedicated is dedicated to…to… Building a trade union

social movement

Expanding and strengthening workers’ organizations

Improving conditions of work and life of workers and their families

CONTEXTCONTEXT Highly globalized environmentHighly globalized environment

Increasing feminization of laborIncreasing feminization of labor

Growing informalization of workGrowing informalization of work

Increasing precariousness of workIncreasing precariousness of work

Need to re-invent trade unionism to become Need to re-invent trade unionism to become more responsive to other than the traditional more responsive to other than the traditional needs & concerns of workerneeds & concerns of worker

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES This initiative aims to contribute to the This initiative aims to contribute to the

international & national campaign for the international & national campaign for the successful promotion and application of successful promotion and application of Globally Harmonized System of Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) through unions’ active (GHS) through unions’ active participation.participation.

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES Specifically, the project works towards:

Increasing awareness, better understanding and appreciation of workers and their unions on GHS;

Integrating GHS into TUCP’s OSHE down to the local union level; and

Mobilizing union POSITIVE Core Trainers for the rapid implementation of GHS at the workplace.

KEY KEY APPROACHESAPPROACHES Capacity-building… training of union POSITIVE

Core Trainers;

Enterprise-level GHS awareness-raising activities;

Partnership [with unions, employers & government]

GHS integration into TUCP institutional education programs; and

GHS Poster campaign

Accomplishments & Accomplishments & MilestonesMilestones

Regional Training/Workshop on Regional Training/Workshop on Globally Harmonized System of Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) for POSITIVE Chemicals (GHS) for POSITIVE Core TrainersCore TrainersTo improve knowledge & skills of trade union To improve knowledge & skills of trade union leaders on OSH and GHSleaders on OSH and GHSTo assist trade unions in developing their To assist trade unions in developing their respective work plans towards implementing GHS respective work plans towards implementing GHS at the enterprise levelat the enterprise level

25 union leaders representing:25 union leaders representing:

5 industrial/manufacturing 5 industrial/manufacturing companies,companies,

3 companies in 3 companies in transportation & transportation &

3 companies in the 3 companies in the agricultural sectoragricultural sector

Accomplishments & Accomplishments & MilestonesMilestonesParticipation-Oriented Safety Participation-Oriented Safety

Improvements by Trade Unions Improvements by Trade Unions Initiative: National Trainers’ Initiative: National Trainers’ ConferenceConferenceA comprehensive discussion of GHS as part of the A comprehensive discussion of GHS as part of the overall OSH program for both unions and companiesoverall OSH program for both unions and companies

Participated in by 25 POSITIVE Core Participated in by 25 POSITIVE Core TrainersTrainers

Luzon [17], Luzon [17], Visayas [2], &Visayas [2], &Mindanao [6]Mindanao [6]

Accomplishments & Accomplishments & MilestonesMilestones Enterprise-Level Orientation Sessions on Globally Enterprise-Level Orientation Sessions on Globally

Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)Chemicals (GHS) […a continuing activity]

Title of Activity(s) & Title of Activity(s) & Inclusive date(s)Inclusive date(s) Name of CompaniesName of Companies

Number of Number of pax pax

(women)(women)

Enterprise-level GHS Orientation Sessions

January 17, 2007 SH Korean Garments 20 (18 women)

January 18, 2007 Hye Sung Korean Electronics Co.

18 (all women)

February 16, 2007 Viva Footwear 20 (8 women)

Accomplishments & Accomplishments & MilestonesMilestones GHS Integration into TUCP-organized ProgramsGHS Integration into TUCP-organized Programs

Title of Activity(s) & Inclusive date(s)Title of Activity(s) & Inclusive date(s) CompaniesCompanies Number of pax (women)Number of pax (women)

a.Regional advocates training on Organizing and Corporate Social Responsibility (for Luzon participants)December 11-14, 2006

-11 local unions-6 TUCP-affiliate federations-1 partner NGO

-25 (10 are women) plus four RTWPB representatives from Regions IV-A, IV-B & III

a.Regional Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility (for Visayas & Mindanao participants)January 15-17, 2007

-7 local unions-1 from media-2 youth -1 Local Government Unit (LGU)-1 GO

-25 participants (7 are women)

a.Regional Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility (for Luzon participants)February 08-10, 2007

-11 local unions-2 TUCP-affiliate federations-5 GOs/LGUs-1 NGO

-27 participants (7 are women)

a.Focus group discussion on CSR

-October 13, 2006 -4 local unions-1 NGO

-18 participants (8 are women)

-November 03, 2007 -14 local unions of the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) from the transport, agriculture and services sectors

-37 participants (only 1 woman participated)

Accomplishments & Accomplishments & MilestonesMilestones Mini-survey on GHS among Trade UnionsMini-survey on GHS among Trade Unions

1.1. to determine the knowledge and source of GHS information to determine the knowledge and source of GHS information among unions; among unions;

2.2. identify existing GHS-related policies of TUCP-unionized identify existing GHS-related policies of TUCP-unionized companies;companies;

3.3. identify chemical labelling practices or systems; existing identify chemical labelling practices or systems; existing classification and hazard communications; future plans of classification and hazard communications; future plans of target companies to implement GHS; andtarget companies to implement GHS; and

4.4. determine the status of GHS implementations (if any) among determine the status of GHS implementations (if any) among respondent unions-companies.respondent unions-companies.

Accomplishments & Accomplishments & MilestonesMilestones Initial analysis of the filled-up questionnaires Initial analysis of the filled-up questionnaires

revealed the following results:revealed the following results: There is There is poor knowledge of GHS among poor knowledge of GHS among

unions.unions. Likewise, there is lack of awareness Likewise, there is lack of awareness and GHS-related policies among TUCP and GHS-related policies among TUCP unionized companies. Hence, unionized companies. Hence, massive and massive and accelerated information dissemination accelerated information dissemination through organized seminars and materials through organized seminars and materials distribution is needed.distribution is needed.

Unions and companies will unlikely Unions and companies will unlikely implement GHS due to lack of awareness implement GHS due to lack of awareness and legal basisand legal basis that will require employers that will require employers and other stakeholders to do so.and other stakeholders to do so.

Unions have expressed willingness and Unions have expressed willingness and articulated that the success articulated that the success GHS GHS implementation at the workplace can be implementation at the workplace can be assured with unions’ initiative and/or assured with unions’ initiative and/or active participation.active participation.

Our PartnersOur PartnersUNIONS: UNIONS: 7 LABOR FEDERATIONS7 LABOR FEDERATIONS

Associated Labour Unions (ALU)Associated Labour Unions (ALU) Association of Trade Unions (ATU, Davao)Association of Trade Unions (ATU, Davao) Pambansang Kilusan sa Paggawa (KILUSAN)Pambansang Kilusan sa Paggawa (KILUSAN) All Workers Alliance Trade Unions (AWATU)All Workers Alliance Trade Unions (AWATU) Philippine Transport and General Workers Organization (PTGWO)Philippine Transport and General Workers Organization (PTGWO) National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the

Philippines (NACUSIP)Philippines (NACUSIP) Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers’ Union Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers’ Union

(PACIWU)(PACIWU)

GOVERNMENT: GOVERNMENT: (2 AGENCIES)(2 AGENCIES)

Occupational Safety and Health Center – Department of Labour Occupational Safety and Health Center – Department of Labour and Employment (OSHC-DOLE)and Employment (OSHC-DOLE)

Bureau of Investments, Department of Trade & Industry (BOI-DTI)Bureau of Investments, Department of Trade & Industry (BOI-DTI)

Plans of MOVING Plans of MOVING FORWARD…FORWARD…

Resource mobilization to support GHS activities for Resource mobilization to support GHS activities for unionsunions

Expansion of GHS capacity-building activities to reach a Expansion of GHS capacity-building activities to reach a wider number of unions & companieswider number of unions & companies

Intensify the conduct of local union-level educationIntensify the conduct of local union-level education Production of localized resource & other info materials Production of localized resource & other info materials

for union trainersfor union trainers Collective bargaining [for management support for Collective bargaining [for management support for

workers’ education]workers’ education] Establish a local labour network for GHSEstablish a local labour network for GHS Advocacy for the integration GHS in several government Advocacy for the integration GHS in several government

monitoring toolsmonitoring tools Advocacy for the integration of GHS and chemical safety Advocacy for the integration of GHS and chemical safety

in CSR programs of companies.in CSR programs of companies.

Thank Thank you!you!