Benefits workers will get from the Magna Carta

According to a presentation by Josephine Parilla, one of our country’s staunchest advocates of the rights, dignity and equitable treatment of workers in the informal sector and a moving spirit of PATAMABA (the Pambansang Kalipunan ng mga Manggagawang Impormal sa Pilipinas),these are what House Bill 1955 can offer to workers in the informal economy:

House Bill 1955, if enacted, would make workers in the informal economy visible through a) the provision of simple standard registration and accreditation system (Sec. 5); and b) inclusion of relevant information on workers in the informal economy in state database at the national (Sec. 18 [h]) and local (Sec. 21. [k]) levels.

H.B. 1955 would make available to accredited workers in the informal economy a comprehensive package of programs and services including:
• medical / health insurance through PhilHealth (Sec. 24)
• social security coverage through SSS (Sec. 25)
• GSIS coverage for volunteers of government instrumentalities ( Sec. 26)
• alternative schemes of providing social security (Sec. 27)
• education and training (Sec. 21.: f.,g.,i.,& m.)
• development/enhancement of entrepreneurial skills (Sec.9.:c.,d.,& e.; & Sec. 21.:h.)
• support to organizing workers in the informal economy (Sec. 18.:g, i.; & Sec. 21.: j., l.);

H.B. 1955 would make workers in the informal economy contribute to government coffers through:
• Payment of registration / accreditation fees (Sec. 5); and
• Payment of annual dues (Sec. 6.)

H.B. 1955 fully respects and promotes rights of workers in the informal economy such as the right to:
• self-organization and participation in decision-making processes relevant to the concerns of workers in the informal economy (Sec. 15.: u; Sec. 16; Sec. 18.:g; Sec. 21.: b)
• equal treatment before the law ( Sec. 21 : n)
• accessible social protection and basic services including but not limited to health services and low-cost housing to enable IS members to have a humane quality of life (Sec. 24-27; 44; 49)
• safe conditions in the workplace that will safeguard their general and reproductive health (Sec. 21 : i; Sec. 38)
• be free from any form of discrimination, violence, sexual exploitation, harassment and abuse (Sec. 33- 39)
• common workplaces, merchandising centers, and inventory bulk-buying centers; common facilities and capacity building to access E-marketing
• alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and processes; as well as equal access to justice through appropriate mechanisms (Sec. 18.: j; Sec. 43)

H.B. 1955 is responsive to the needs and issues of women in the informal economy. The bill:
• provides financial assistance to women—
• led livelihood initiatives (Sec. 9.: a, b)
• enhances participation of women in decision—
making processes (Sec. 15.: s, u, v; Sec. 16.);
• develops sex — disaggregated database (Sec. 18.: h; Sec. 21.: k); and
• provides women – friendly standards (Sec. 33 – 50)

H.B. 1955 develops standards in relation with work in the informal economy in the areas of:
• wages (Sec. 31, 32, 40)
• conditions of work (Sec. 28; 32 – 39; 41, 44 – 45; 51 – 54)
• benefits (Sec. 46 – 50)

H.B. 1955 would create government instrumentalities mandated to develop and implement programs for workers in the informal economy:
• Informal Economy Development Authority (IEDA) (Sec.14-20)
• Workers in the Informal Economy Local Development Office (WIELDO) (Sec. 21-22)

The bill offers a comprehensive, integrated, rights-based and gender-responsive policy instrument to address empowerment issues and bring informal workers into the mainstream of the Philippine economy. –Josephine C. Parilla, Manila Times

(Courtesy of (PATAMABA). National Network of Informal Workers-HOMENET Philippines).