12 December, 2023After four years of campaigning led by IndustriALL Philippine affiliates, the country’s Senate has ratified the ILO Convention on violence and harassment, making Philippines the 37th country in the world to do so.
IndustriALL Philippine women unionists’ campaign took off from IndustriALL’s 2017 global pledge against violence and harassment in workplaces and unions, and the successful campaign includes expanding maternity leave from 65 to 105 days that guarantees full payment of wages.
After the adoption of ILO C190 and Resolution 206 at the 2019 International Labour Conference, IndustriALL Philippine affiliates anchored their ratification campaign in the reports of incidence, forms and severity of violence and harassment, as well as in the gaps in Philippine women-specific and related laws, and the government's priority agenda.
In 2022, the Philippine National Police reported 16,158 cases of violence against women, up from 12,492 cases in 2021 and 15,828 cases in 2020.
Extensive lobbying, such as writing letters to and meeting with government leaders, senators and house representatives, was carried out. Position paper on C190 and national-level education materials were developed. The C190 campaign was mainstreamed through the Labour Day celebration, World Day for Decent World activity and International Youth Day.
“President Marcos and the Senators should be lauded for putting premium in human dignity and the lives that are at risk, for their commitment to improve existing laws, rules and programs to stop violence and harassment, and for their readiness to be held accountable related to the enforcement of this new global standard,”
says Eva Arcos, IndustriALL Global and Asia-Pacific Executive Committee member and Associated Labor Unions (ALU) national vice president.
Arcos hopes that the Philippine ratification of C190 will boost the country's international standing with respect to workers' protection, saying that the decision will provide decent and humane employment to workers, especially those vulnerable to abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination.
“This will set another landmark for the Philippines as the first country in Asia to ratify the convention that will protect our working women and men alike against violence and harassment in the world of work,”
says Alma Certeza, CLASS and IndustriALL Philippine women co-chair.
“The role of IndustriALL affiliates, and of the women unionists, has been critical in securing ratification of C190 in the Philippines. This is a victory for all workers, including women workers disproportionally affected by GBVH.
The Convention, which gives a central role to collective bargaining in the fight against violence and harassment in the workplace, gives trade unions in Philippines additional means of action to ensure that workers' right to an environment free from all forms of violence and harassment is respected,”
says Armelle Seby, IndustriALL director for gender.