17 February 2011: Manila, Philippines – The Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) affiliates would engage their construction safety officer-members in the campaign to ban asbestos in the Philippines. In a meeting Friday, February 11, 2011, the National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW) and the Association of Construction and Informal Workers (ACIW) volunteered their safety officers to be trained as asbestos advocates in the workplace.
The safety officers would orient workers on the hazards of asbestos in the toolbox meetings. The toolbox meeting fits because of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) used in the building and construction industry. Workers are exposed to asbestos by installing, removing or fixing ACMs. NUBCW and ACIW said comics-style information materials would help spread the hazards of asbestos in the workplace.
The training of safety officers to be asbestos advocates and the orientation of workers in the toolbox meetings would strengthen the campaign urging the Senate to pass the bill banning asbestos. Safety officers and workers would then be encouraged to send the email urging the passage of the bill to the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce.
It was suggested that union participation in the inspection of asbestos standards and safety measures would help ensure proper monitoring of compliance by companies engaged with asbestos. This would be brought up in the discussions in developing the National Program for the Elimination of Asbestos-Related (NPEAD).
BWI affiliates’ network that could support the campaign would be engaged. Other groups – victims, health and safety practitioners, health and safety NGOs, the academe, and professional associations – would enrich the discussions in the NPEAD.
The meeting sought to encourage the participation of BWI affiliates in the ban asbestos campaign through the BWI Philippine Affiliates Council (PAC). It introduced the BWI, Associated Labor Unions (ALU) and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) initiatives and updated them on the accomplishments and status of the campaign.
It’s women’s month!
“Support women every day of the year!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and Made-in-the-Philippines
Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
Mar 4— Employee Appreciation Day
Mar 15 — World Consumer Rights Day
Mar 18 — Global Recycling Day
Mar 21 — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Mar 23 — International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Mar 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Mar 27 — Earth Hour
