Capacity Building Seminar on the Freedom of Association, Collective Bargaining and Labor Law implementation in the Philippine Economic Zones, Closing Message by FUR-TUCP Executive Vice President ARTURO BASEA, 23 April 2010, Tagaytay City

Capacity Building Seminar on the Freedom of Association, Collective Bargaining and Labor Law implementation in the Philippine Economic Zones
Closing Message by FUR-TUCP Executive Vice President ARTURO BASEA
23 April 2010, PHINMA Training Center, Tagaytay City

On behalf of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, our members, their families and our partners, I would like to take this opportunity to thank ILO, DOLE and PEZA and organizers of this program, to underline what I think were some progress and promising indications for good practices for improving FoA and working conditions in the zones.

It was a great opportunity to do exactly what this initiative is all about –
to share our, and learn from others, their experiences, sentiments and aspirations for effective application of FoA and CB in economic zones.

This program is a transition from mere statements, comforting messages and empty promises to identifying, clarifying and reaffirming roles, mandates, and accountabilities. We heard real commitments to put into actions, solutions, strategies and mechanisms to improve implementation of labor laws in ecozones.

Let me summarize some of these promising points and outlines for sustainability:

Firstly, it was interesting and instructive to hear about – local strategies and models of inter-agency and cooperation mechanisms and their contributions to actual improvements in labor law enforcement in ecozones. With the government, employers and trade unions working together, we can get more things done.

Secondly, it was good to hear — some “good” progress in ILO-examined and new labor cases, an indication of authorities’ commitment to international and national labor standards and norms, particularly the recommendations of the Philippine tripartite sectors and of the ILO high-level mission. This is a good beginning. With good laws, regulations, partnerships and mechanism in place, we can expect similar improvements in other equally important labor issues as well.

Further, it was particularly important for us, trade unions, to learn about — additional and new avenues for monitoring and responding to violations of human and trade union rights and opportunities for trade unions’ genuine participation in the implementation and monitoring procedures and practices. We expect the tripartite sectors and the social partners to be pro-active in making this originally TUCP-proposed tripartite monitoring mechanism work.

And finally, it was also reassuring to hear strategies and approaches that go beyond quick wins and soothing short-term wounds to collective ways of helping the tripartite sectors and other social partners make sustainable improvements in their engagement, interventions and actions.

While we recognize your, their, our ability and commitment to address these challenges, all these priorities and needs cannot possibly be addressed in a two-day conference, however deeply engaged and productive we have been.

There is still more to do and I hope this conference is not just an event, but a process of sustaining this momentum and capitalizing on what has been achieved.

Some ideas for furthering the process include: a continued sharing of best practices and monitoring of interventions; further localizing awareness down to enterprises and communities; developing appropriate competencies; and organizing and supporting consultative mechanisms.

No doubt, these are on your priority list, and certainly on ours. We are all, I am sure, grateful to ILO, DOLE and PEZA and the social partners and colleagues from local areas who took the time and made the effort to join in interesting discussions in the workshops.

Thank you.