The Philippine Report

The Philippine ReportThe Philippine Report

Gazelle Gonzales ArambuloGazelle Gonzales ArambuloProject Assistant, Project Assistant, Trade Union Congress Trade Union Congress of the Philippinesof the Philippines

Effects of GlobalizationEffects of Globalization

On EmploymentOn Employment

• Employment rose in April 2007 by 3.1 Employment rose in April 2007 by 3.1 percent with 1.007 million new percent with 1.007 million new employed workers, increasing the total employed workers, increasing the total employment in the country to 33.706 employment in the country to 33.706 million from 32.699 million in April 2006 million from 32.699 million in April 2006 (DOLE)(DOLE)

Effects of Globalization: Effects of Globalization: On EmploymentOn Employment

• Contributing sectors: agriculture, fishery Contributing sectors: agriculture, fishery and construction, private household with and construction, private household with employed persons, real estate, renting employed persons, real estate, renting and business activities, transport, and business activities, transport, storage and communications, and other storage and communications, and other community, social and personal service community, social and personal service activities activities


Despite the reported improvements, Despite the reported improvements, considerable difficulties continueconsiderable difficulties continue • local enterprises find the competition stiff and local enterprises find the competition stiff and

downsize operations or close downdownsize operations or close down

• quality of employment has deteriorated, with quality of employment has deteriorated, with new employment concentrated in contractual new employment concentrated in contractual terms, home-based work, and informal terms, home-based work, and informal arrangements, where wages and working arrangements, where wages and working conditions are less remunerative and where conditions are less remunerative and where unions and collective bargaining do not existunions and collective bargaining do not exist


As part of the “streamlining”, regular As part of the “streamlining”, regular workers have been replaced by workers have been replaced by contractual workers. contractual workers.

Women workers have been further Women workers have been further disadvantaged in and outside the disadvantaged in and outside the economic zones. economic zones. • TUCP survey indicates that 20% of the firms TUCP survey indicates that 20% of the firms

practice gender-based discrimination such as practice gender-based discrimination such as placing pregnant women on forced leave placing pregnant women on forced leave without pay, terminating women after giving without pay, terminating women after giving birth, giving of lower wages to women and birth, giving of lower wages to women and sexual harassment.sexual harassment.


Occupational safety and health Occupational safety and health issues, have been relegated to the issues, have been relegated to the background. background. • TUCP’s survey specifies that 96% of the TUCP’s survey specifies that 96% of the

companies violate safety and health companies violate safety and health standards; 65% have complaints of standards; 65% have complaints of noise; 43% have no safety committees; noise; 43% have no safety committees; and 25% do not provide safety and 25% do not provide safety equipmentequipment

Effects of Globalization: Effects of Globalization: On Youth UnemploymentOn Youth Unemployment

Unemployment remained persistently high Unemployment remained persistently high in 2001-2003, averaging 11.3 percent but in 2001-2003, averaging 11.3 percent but improved from 2003-2005 with an average improved from 2003-2005 with an average of 9.3 percent. of 9.3 percent.

Decent employment opportunities remain Decent employment opportunities remain scarce for those who live in the urban scarce for those who live in the urban areas, for the youth who are unskilled and areas, for the youth who are unskilled and inexperienced, and for those whose inexperienced, and for those whose education do not match the industry education do not match the industry needs.needs.

Effects of Globalization: On Organized Effects of Globalization: On Organized and Unorganized Sectors and Unorganized Sectors

Union membership has gone down Union membership has gone down through retrenchment and plant closings, through retrenchment and plant closings, but have started to stabilize. The but have started to stabilize. The percentage of workforce covered will percentage of workforce covered will continue to decrease, as employment continue to decrease, as employment grows faster than unionization of workers.grows faster than unionization of workers.

Global pressures, and the profit motive, Global pressures, and the profit motive, sanctions labor-only contracting and sanctions labor-only contracting and similar schemes – seeking to deny job similar schemes – seeking to deny job security and minimum labor standards to security and minimum labor standards to workers.workers.

Problems Faced by Young WorkersProblems Faced by Young Workers

Almost half of all unemployed workers in Almost half of all unemployed workers in the Philippines belong to the 15-24 years the Philippines belong to the 15-24 years bracket, while 21% of all employed bracket, while 21% of all employed workers are young.workers are young.

There are almost 16 million Filipinos who There are almost 16 million Filipinos who are in the youth sector, of whom 8.2 are in the youth sector, of whom 8.2 million are in the labor force, 6.1 million million are in the labor force, 6.1 million are in school and 1.7 million are neither in are in school and 1.7 million are neither in the labor force nor in school.the labor force nor in school.

Problems Faced by Young WorkersProblems Faced by Young Workers

General skepticism among young workers over General skepticism among young workers over finding a job is significant (44%). finding a job is significant (44%).

Workers have problems relating to Workers have problems relating to contractualization (18% in garment factories, contractualization (18% in garment factories, 10% in others), maltreatment by supervisors 10% in others), maltreatment by supervisors (30%), and non-remittance of Social Security (30%), and non-remittance of Social Security System contributions (27%), among others.System contributions (27%), among others.

Changing moral standards among the young are Changing moral standards among the young are reflected in the relatively high proportion of reflected in the relatively high proportion of sexually active male (30%) and the incidence of sexually active male (30%) and the incidence of reproductive health problems mostly among reproductive health problems mostly among women (24%).women (24%).

ILO’s International ILO’s International Labour StandardsLabour Standards Ratified Conventions:Ratified Conventions:

• The Philippines has ratified Convention The Philippines has ratified Convention numbers 29 (Forced Labor)[in 2005], 87 numbers 29 (Forced Labor)[in 2005], 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize), 98 (Right to Organize and Right to Organize), 98 (Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining), 100 (Equal Collective Bargaining), 100 (Equal Remuneration), 105 (Abolition of Forced Remuneration), 105 (Abolition of Forced Labor), 11 (Discrimination (employment & Labor), 11 (Discrimination (employment & occupation)), 138 (Minimum Age) and 182 occupation)), 138 (Minimum Age) and 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour). And all are (Worst Forms of Child Labour). And all are satisfactorily being implementedsatisfactorily being implemented

On Labor Standards On Labor Standards

Necessary laws and regulations to Necessary laws and regulations to implement the core standards have been implement the core standards have been enacted, and they are applicable in all enacted, and they are applicable in all workplaces, including economic zones.workplaces, including economic zones.

Enforcement of these laws and regulations Enforcement of these laws and regulations leave much to be desired. leave much to be desired. Violations, Violations, including in union organization and including in union organization and collective bargaining, are usual. In collective bargaining, are usual. In organizing, intimidation, harassment, organizing, intimidation, harassment, coercion, dismissals have been the norm.coercion, dismissals have been the norm.

OVERALL OVERALL

TUCPTUCP AGENDAAGENDA Build a social movementBuild a social movement

Expand and strengthen Expand and strengthen organizationsorganizations

Improve conditions of work and life Improve conditions of work and life of workers and their familiesof workers and their families

STRATEGIES UNDERTAKENSTRATEGIES UNDERTAKEN

1. Membership 1. Membership expansion expansion

2. Issue-based alliance 2. Issue-based alliance and coalition-building and coalition-building

with other TUs and with other TUs and various labor support various labor support organizations;organizations;

3. Dialogues/trialogues 3. Dialogues/trialogues with government and with government and employersemployers

4. Participation in 4. Participation in tripartite policy-tripartite policy-making bodiesmaking bodies

5. Advocacy and 5. Advocacy and networking networking

6. Social mobilization 6. Social mobilization and other public event and other public event activitiesactivities

7. Research7. Research

8. Media Advocacy8. Media Advocacy

TUCP CURRENT PROGRAM TUCP CURRENT PROGRAM INITIATIVES:INITIATIVES:

1.Organizing Program in 1.Organizing Program in Economic Zones; Public Economic Zones; Public Sector; Call CentersSector; Call Centers

2.Anti-Sweatshops 2.Anti-Sweatshops CampaignCampaign

3.Workplace Reproductive 3.Workplace Reproductive Health/HIV/AIDS ProgramHealth/HIV/AIDS Program

4.Anti-child labor program4.Anti-child labor program

5.Women and Youth 5.Women and Youth leadership programsleadership programs

6.Research & 6.Research & PublicationsPublications

7.Civic education 7.Civic education programs programs

8.Coalition-building 8.Coalition-building for effective policy for effective policy advocacy advocacy campaigncampaign

9.Cooperatives and 9.Cooperatives and other membership other membership programsprograms

RATIONALE OF PROGRAM RATIONALE OF PROGRAM INITIATIVESINITIATIVESUnions, as the largest organizations in society, Unions, as the largest organizations in society,

should lead societal changes;should lead societal changes;

Workers interests and demands must be Workers interests and demands must be considered and balanced with the legitimate considered and balanced with the legitimate demands and interests of other sectors;demands and interests of other sectors;

Working closely with government and Working closely with government and employers and implementing activities employers and implementing activities together improve the chances together improve the chances for for consensus building and successful consensus building and successful advancement of labor’s and social agendaadvancement of labor’s and social agenda

AchievementsAchievements

On membership On membership expansion / expansion / strengtheningstrengthening

EPZ/other private sector workersEPZ/other private sector workers::

Total no. of workplaces organized = Total no. of workplaces organized = 135135, , through direct organizing work in the EPZs;through direct organizing work in the EPZs;

To date TUCP and affiliates, account for 65 % To date TUCP and affiliates, account for 65 % of total unions established in the zonesof total unions established in the zones

Public Sector WorkersPublic Sector Workers::

20 newly organized unions; 9,849 members20 newly organized unions; 9,849 members

On Alliance/coalition-building On Alliance/coalition-building with trade union groups; various with trade union groups; various labor support organizations:labor support organizations:

Trade union groups Trade union groups

Informal sector Informal sector groupsgroups

Disadvantaged Disadvantaged Women GroupsWomen Groups

Anti-Child labor Anti-Child labor advocates advocates

Migrant Workers Migrant Workers Groups Groups

Legal Advocacy Legal Advocacy Groups Groups

Multi-sectoral groups Multi-sectoral groups

Key government Key government agencies/local agencies/local government unitsgovernment units

Successfully forged partnership/collaboration with trade unions Successfully forged partnership/collaboration with trade unions and other non-traditional labor support organizationsand other non-traditional labor support organizations::

TUCP officials appointed as labor TUCP officials appointed as labor representatives in 25 tripartite representatives in 25 tripartite bodies, including SSS, NWPC, bodies, including SSS, NWPC, OWWA, PEZA, TESDA, NAPC, OWWA, PEZA, TESDA, NAPC, NCRFW, TIPC, PNAC, PCSD, PCP, NCRFW, TIPC, PNAC, PCSD, PCP, WTO/AFTA/APEC Advisory WTO/AFTA/APEC Advisory CommissionCommission

On efforts to provide workers On efforts to provide workers a voice in government policy-a voice in government policy-making bodies:making bodies:

1. 1. Formal LaborFormal Labor

TUCP labor law reforms presented to/adopted by TUCP labor law reforms presented to/adopted by

• TIPC’s draft of Labor Code Amendments TIPC’s draft of Labor Code Amendments • Congressional Labor Committee’s draft of Labor Congressional Labor Committee’s draft of Labor

Code AmendmentsCode Amendments• NLRC Manual of Rules and ProcedureNLRC Manual of Rules and Procedure• DOLE DO#9 on Labor RelationsDOLE DO#9 on Labor Relations• President GMArroyo revoking of DO#10 on Labor-President GMArroyo revoking of DO#10 on Labor-

Only ContractingOnly Contracting• 1111THTH CONGRESS RE: Public Sector Unionism bill CONGRESS RE: Public Sector Unionism bill• 1111THTH CONGRESS RE: Civil Service Code Amendments CONGRESS RE: Civil Service Code Amendments• 1111thth CONGRESS/DOLE/NWPC RE: Productivity CONGRESS/DOLE/NWPC RE: Productivity

Incentives billIncentives bill

On efforts to promote Core On efforts to promote Core Labor Standards/Rule of Law:Labor Standards/Rule of Law:

2. 2. Informal SectorInformal Sector::

• Alternative dispute resolution system Alternative dispute resolution system for home workersfor home workers

• Campaign for specialized agency to Campaign for specialized agency to handle caseshandle cases

• Social protection/insurance Social protection/insurance (accreditation as collectors of (accreditation as collectors of premium payments in PhilHealth)premium payments in PhilHealth)

• Access to creditsAccess to credits


3. 3. Migrant LaborMigrant Labor::

• Development of a consolidated service & information guide {Defining roles/functions; joint action}, which were adopted by migrant labor focused agencies;

• Release of additional funds (P30 million) for legal assistance to OFWs;

• Review of IRR to include OFWs with labor-related cases, maltreatment and gender-related cases as beneficiaries of the Fund;

continued…


3. 3. Migrant LaborMigrant Labor: :

• Memo of Undertaking with OLAMWA/DFA for more comprehensive and publicly disseminated reports on the use of legal assistance funds;

• Issuance of an NLRC-wide memorandum directing Labor Arbiters to comply with the “no extension policy” on the submission of case documents;

• proposed amendments to RA 8042 to:proposed amendments to RA 8042 to: strengthen the provision on “joint and solidarity liability” of strengthen the provision on “joint and solidarity liability” of

employer and recruitment agency;employer and recruitment agency; scrap the “deregulation” or phase out provision;scrap the “deregulation” or phase out provision; strengthen the provision on “selective deployment”strengthen the provision on “selective deployment”


4. 4. Women WorkersWomen Workers::

• Domestic Violence and other forms of abuse of Domestic Violence and other forms of abuse of womenwomen

• Improved enforcement/compliance with laws Improved enforcement/compliance with laws on Anti Sexual Harassment/Job Discriminationon Anti Sexual Harassment/Job Discrimination

• Gender integration in the rules, procedures Gender integration in the rules, procedures and approaches of the judiciary/other law and approaches of the judiciary/other law enforcement agencies.enforcement agencies.


5. 5. Across SectorsAcross Sectors

• Adoption of UNIFORM performance evaluation schemes for Adoption of UNIFORM performance evaluation schemes for quasi-judicial, special courts and administrative bodies quasi-judicial, special courts and administrative bodies involved in the administration/delivery of justice involved in the administration/delivery of justice

[NLRC /DOLE and attached [NLRC /DOLE and attached agencies]agencies]

• Implementation of Trial Court Performance Monitoring Implementation of Trial Court Performance Monitoring System (TCPS) for RTCs and MTCsSystem (TCPS) for RTCs and MTCs; ; [4 RTCs; 3 MTCs][4 RTCs; 3 MTCs]

• Adoption/integration in the Supreme Court’s ACTION Adoption/integration in the Supreme Court’s ACTION PROGRAM FOR JUDICIAL REFORMS - 2000-2006 PROGRAM FOR JUDICIAL REFORMS - 2000-2006 TUCP’s/Partners’ recommendation TUCP’s/Partners’ recommendation

re: full adoption/implementation of TCPSre: full adoption/implementation of TCPS


On Use of Information TechnologyOn Use of Information Technology

Since 2002Since 2002• E-groupsE-groups• Organizers are required to submit Organizers are required to submit

reports through egroup/email.reports through egroup/email.• TUCP website (TUCP website (www.tucp.org.phwww.tucp.org.ph))• Distance education program through Distance education program through

chat sessionschat sessions• Information Technology TrainingsInformation Technology Trainings

Thank you!Thank you!

Documents

The Philippine Report