Statement, TUCP VP Alejandro Villaza, Workers’ Delegate, Philippines, 99th International Labor Conference, Geneva

STATEMENT
TUCP VICE PRESIDENT ALEJANDRO C. VILLAVIZA
WORKERS’ DELEGATE, PHILIPPINES
99TH INTERNATIONA LABOR CONFERENCE
GENEVA

On behalf of the workers in the Philippines, I commend the Director General Juan Somavia and ILO for programs and action to achieve our collective goal of ensuring Decent Work, particularly the right to self-organization and collective bargaining.

Mr. President,  important decisions and measures have been taken
in the Philippines recently, including:
(1) election of the 15th Philippine President;
(2) Ensuring respect for and promotion of the Freedom of Association;
(3) Passage of the Magna Carta for Women.

ON THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ELECTION

The Philippines is currently in transition.
We have just elected our President,
Congress, and all local government officials.
Senator Benigno Simeon Aquino, III
–the son of former Senator Benigno Aquino and former President Corazon Aquino, an icon of democracy and social justice, and the first woman head of state to address the ILO in 1988,will be President by July 1.

Labor notes with interest his early pledges:
–fighting and rooting out corruption
as a major way of fighting poverty;
–creating more  employment at home
so that migration wouldn’t be necessary; and
–producing better educated workers
“to reduce the rate of those who subsist on minimum wage just because they were not able to acquire the skills needed to land them in better-paid job opportunities”.

TUCP will monitor developments and push harder for Decent Work  under the new government.

ON ENSURING RESPECT FOR AND PROMOTION OF
THE FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

On September 2009, the government of the Philippines received the ILO High Level Mission on Convention 87, Freedom of Association and Protection of Workers Rights to Organize, led by ILO Director Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry .

We are pleased to report that, among other things, the Philippine Tripartite Constituents have established the TUCP-proposed  High level Tripartite Monitoring Body on the application of International labor Standards, in particular, ILO Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize.

The Body will facilitate solutions to long-standing cases which had been reported to ILO; monitor and report progress on these cases; and facilitate gathering of factual information on complaints submitted to the ILO and recommend appropriate actions.

We welcome the Technical Cooperation Program with ILO that enables the government to engage with constituents and non-traditional stakeholders at various levels in the effective application of the principles of the Convention
through training and capacity-building.

These are “proofs of our commitment to comprehensive and coherent action
and an inclusive participatory approach to take meaningful steps at the national level.”

ON DECENT WORK FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS

We report that the tripartite partners in the Philippines collectively agrees and endorses the adoption of an international instrument on decent work for domestic workers.

To us, an international instrument promoting decent work for domestic workers is necessary.

Given the numbers of Philippine domestic workers, their infinite vulnerability,
their effective exclusion from protection of national laws and regulations —
this action is a moral obligation.

ON HIV AND AIDS PREVENTION AND CONTROL AT THE WORKPLACE.

HIV and AIDS infection is a growing concern in the Philippines.  From only one case of infection every three days in 2000, this has increased to one case per day in 2007, two cases every day in 2009.

There is urgent need for better concerted effort from all stakeholders, particularly tripartite partners, as well as local communities.

The rights-based Recommendation on HIV and AIDS at the World of Work
will certainly help, guide and strengthen tripartite actions.

Mr. President, we are also pleased to report the enactment into law of the Magna Carta for Women and the promulgation of its implementing rules.
The law prescribes review of Philippine legislation to make them fully-compliant with non-discrimination against women.

In closing, Mr. President, in behalf of workers in the Philippines, I express our full support for the programs and action that will result from this Conference.

Thank you,  Mr. President.