Trade Union Congress of the Philippines - TUCP

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) expressing full support to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s pitch for Philippine-European Union Free Trade Agreement (EU-PH FTA) and renewal of the EU GSP+ that is set to expire this year, is greatly optimistic of more decent employment opportunities to be created under the trade agreements.

“In line with the President’s ardent belief that a future trade arrangement is a ‘win-win’ for both the Philippines and EU, the TUCP likewise believes that these trade privileges and future bilateral agreement tied to progressive compliance with the free exercise of labor rights, sustainable development, climate change energy transition, and the Indo-Pacific strategy of the European Union will also be a huge ‘win-win’ opportunity for both workers and employers,” TUCP Vice President Luis Corral said.

“The various economic managers and concerned Government agencies however must be careful not to derail or unwittingly sabotage the President’s efforts to bring in more decent employment opportunities for our poor countrymen. Observance of human rights and international labour standards, which the country has yet to show firm commitment to based on findings of the International Labor Organization (ILO), are embedded in both EU trade instruments, similar to those of the US. Increasingly, trade is linked to promotion and respect for the fundamental principles and rights at work (FPRW), which embrace all the 8 core ILO Conventions and the 2 additional conventions on Occupational Safety and Health,” Corral explained.

The country’s observance of ILO Convention No.87 has been the subject of at least three (3) high-level technical missions of the ILO since 2009, the latest was the January 2023 High Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM) which reiterated the long-standing concerns on anti-union violence, political profiling and impunity.

“Addressing long-standing workers’ issues, passing the long-committed labor legislations to align the Labor Code with the core standards, and pursuing the ratification of essential International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions will show the Marcos Administration’s firm commitment to the fundamental principles,” Corral elaborated.

“Upholding fundamental labor rights, ensuring core labor standards, and safeguarding the dignity of each and every worker will firmly establish the Marcos Administration as a modern and modernizing presidency that fosters race-to-the-top labor relations. This is the key to upgrading our attractiveness to foreign direct investments (FDIs) and to locators whose products are marketed to progressive economies whose consumers place primacy on good governance and good labor practices. Good human rights and good labor practices, after all, is good economics,” underscored Corral.

“Our economic managers, security agencies and employers should understand that trade unions are present here to ensure safe and healthy workplaces, just compensation and benefits, and consequently, this will translate to higher productivity, greater competitiveness, and enhanced profitability. Enough with the archaic mindset of profit at the expense of workers and union-busting, trade unions have long been social partners towards mutually beneficial outcomes for both workers and employers,” explained Corral.

“State security forces must stop viewing legitimate trade unionism from the prism of anti-insurgency. This aberrant perspective has led to aggressive red-tagging and political profiling of even responsible labor centers whose union leaders and members are only exercising their fundamental labor rights,” Corral elaborated.

“The TUCP believes that the labor reform legislation and committing to substantial progress on longstanding Philippine Government commitments to respect workers’ Freedom of Association under both trade agreements and with the ILO, will show the world that we are moving rapidly to a more decent and equitable society under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., worthy of renewed global recognition and trust,” added Corral.

“The various economic managers and concerned Government agencies however must be careful not to derail or unwittingly sabotage the President’s efforts to bring in more decent employment opportunities for our poor countrymen. Observance of human rights and international labour standards, which the country has yet to show firm commitment to based on findings of the International Labor Organization (ILO), are embedded in both EU trade instruments, similar to those of the US. Increasingly, trade is linked to promotion and respect for the fundamental principles and rights at work (FPRW), which embrace all the 8 core ILO Conventions and the 2 additional conventions on Occupational Safety and Health,” Corral explained.

The country’s observance of ILO Convention No.87 has been the subject of at least three (3) high-level technical missions of the ILO since 2009, the latest was the January 2023 High Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM) which reiterated the long-standing concerns on anti-union violence, political profiling and impunity.

“Addressing long-standing workers’ issues, passing the long-committed labor legislations to align the Labor Code with the core standards, and pursuing the ratification of essential International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions will show the Marcos Administration’s firm commitment to the fundamental principles,” Corral elaborated.

“Upholding fundamental labor rights, ensuring core labor standards, and safeguarding the dignity of each and every worker will firmly establish the Marcos Administration as a modern and modernizing presidency that fosters race-to-the-top labor relations. This is the key to upgrading our attractiveness to foreign direct investments (FDIs) and to locators whose products are marketed to progressive economies whose consumers place primacy on good governance and good labor practices. Good human rights and good labor practices, after all, is good economics,” underscored Corral.

“Our economic managers, security agencies and employers should understand that trade unions are present here to ensure safe and healthy workplaces, just compensation and benefits, and consequently, this will translate to higher productivity, greater competitiveness, and enhanced profitability. Enough with the archaic mindset of profit at the expense of workers and union-busting, trade unions have long been social partners towards mutually beneficial outcomes for both workers and employers,” explained Corral.

“State security forces must stop viewing legitimate trade unionism from the prism of anti-insurgency. This aberrant perspective has led to aggressive red-tagging and political profiling of even responsible labor centers whose union leaders and members are only exercising their fundamental labor rights,” Corral elaborated.

“The TUCP believes that the labor reform legislation and committing to substantial progress on longstanding Philippine Government commitments to respect workers’ Freedom of Association under both trade agreements and with the ILO, will show the world that we are moving rapidly to a more decent and equitable society under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., worthy of renewed global recognition and trust,” added Corral.

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