WDDW Call to Action (Philippine Version)

Even before the current crisis, while GDP continuously increases in real terms, the lives of workers and their families have not improved.

There is large unemployment and underemployment and inequitable distribution of income and wealth.

• 65% OF THE POPULATION HAVE EARNINGS OF $2 OR LESS A DAY.
• MILLIONS OF WOMEN AND MEN WORK IN CONDITIONS OF BONDAGE.
• 2.4 MILLION CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 15 WORK AND ARE UNABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL.
• SCORES OF WORKERS DIE AND HUNDREDS ARE MAIMED DUE TO WORK-RELATED ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES EVERY YEAR.

The campaign — Call to action for “Decent Work, Decent Life aims to:

a) Build awareness of Decent Work among citizens, decision makers and key institutions; and

b) Place Decent Work at the core of development, economic, trade, financial and social policies at all levels.

Decent Work, Decent Life is an international campaign led by INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ITUC). TUCP is an ITUC affiliate

Together with other unions all over the world,  we call on the government and decisions-makers to:

1) Assure inclusive strategies for full and productive employment, including for those in the informal economy.

Stable and quality jobs make for a healthy economy.

All people have the right to work, to good working conditions and to sufficient income for their basic needs, preferably living wages.

2) Promote and protect workers’ rights to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively.

They are fundamental to decent work.

3) Strengthen and broaden social protection by ensuring access to social security, pensions, unemployment benefits, maternity protection and quality health care.

4) Change unfair trade rules.

Include core labour standards in trade agreements.

Incorporate the demands of workers’ organizations and the rest of civil society–to ensure that trade agreements are used for decent work, sustainable development and empowerment of workers, women, youth, the unemployed and the poor.

5) Incorporate social and environmental concerns, particularly core labour standards, in the priorities and projects of international financial institutions.

Conditions which force countries to deregulate labour markets, reduce public spending and privatise public services at the cost of access and quality — must be stopped.

6) Pressure governments to increase the level of ODA of rich countries to at least 0.7 % of GDP.

This is imperative to reach the UN Millennium Development Goals.

7) Reduce exploitation of migrant workers.

Implement ILO Conventions 97 and 143 and the 1990 UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.