5 October, 2010Following a national IMF workshop on building sustainable union structures in the Philippines, a small delegation of IMF representatives took the opportunity to raise human and trade union rights violations with the new Aquino administration.
THE PHILIPPINES: The delegation consisting of Rob Johnston, IMF executive director for industrial policy, Glenn Thompson of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) and Arunasalam, IMF regional representative for South East Asia met with Hans Cacdac, Under Secretary of the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) on September 30. During the meeting the IMF delegation urged the new administration to address the increase in trade union and human rights violations under the previous administration.
IMF raised concerns related to extra-judicial killings and the fact that labour law and practices in the Philippines fall below universally accepted international labour standards as noted by the IMF Executive Committee in June.
Under Secretary Cacdac responded by outlining a 22 point labour plan that the new administration hopes to adopt, including improving protection of workers' rights and establishing social dialogue mechanisms to encourage a greater respect of labour rights. One example would be the development of tri-partite industry or sector councils that trade unions would be part of.
In response, the IMF outlined the need for DOLE to ensure that both trade unions and the Commission on Human Rights play an active role as part of the process. Both have experience in dealing with trade union rights abuses and would be able to assist in ensuring that the new plan addressed the most relevant issues. The current labour law acts as a barrier to freedom of association and some foreign investors exploit the situation by preventing the formation of unions, or abusing workers who do join. With this in mind the delegation requested that DOLE consider training multinationals on how to respect both national and international laws.
Under Secretary Cacdac also stated that the government would be launching a new efficiency drive and are aiming to resolve 98 per cent of outstanding and previous cases across all departments by April 2011.
IMF raised the issue of precarious work faced by migrant labour both in the Philippines and by its citizens abroad. Under Secretary Cacdac replied that the administration is developing a network to assist its citizens particularly in the middle- east and Asia. He stated that the government would also try to encourage other countries in the region to adopt similar approaches.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Rob Johnston stated, "We look forward to seeing the evidence of the reforms discussed to establish basic human and trade union rights in the Philippines. IMF's aim is to support and defend the ordinary men and women who would like to be a union member free from fear."
Earlier, IMF's national workshop on building sustainable union structures in the Philippines took place on September 28. The MWAP, PMA and ALU Metal, three Filipino unions requesting affiliation to the IMF, attended together with representatives of the IMF Executive Committee members from Australia, Japan and Indonesia. At the meeting the unions discussed organizing targets, collective bargaining training and national trade union solidarity.