Statement, TUCP Vice President Alejandro Villaviza, Workers’ Delegate, Philippines, 100th ILC, Geneva

STATEMENT
TUCP  VICE PRESIDENT ALEJANDRO C. VILLAVIZA
WORKERS’ DELEGATE, PHILIPPINES
100th INTERNATIONA LABOR CONFERENCE, GENEVA

Introduction

Mr. President, on behalf of unions,
workers and their families in the Philippines,
let me express complete support for the call of the ILO
and the Director General’s vision
of sustainable development for social justice.
Certainly, “the world needs a new era of social justice
inspired by a vision of sustainable development.”

The current global situation is NOT SUSTAINABLE
–where profit is given value more than people;
–where countless families continue to slide into poverty;
–where pay inequality persists;
–where wage policies fail as instruments
for wealth distribution and re-distribution;
–where contractual work, now dominates employment;
–where young people suffer double the average unemployment rate;
–where the transformation of informal
to formal employment is slow;
–where union membership
and coverage of collective agreements keep declining;
–where workers are sidelined
in social dialogue and decision-making mechanisms;
–where social protection continue to deteriorate;
–where affluent countries and their governments,
and international institutions
continue to impose restrictive conditionalities
on development assistance and loans
for developing countries; and
–where the social dimension of regional integration,
bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements
and other forms of partnerships are non-existent,
inadequate, or not fully implemented.

Trade unions share in the ILO’s battle for Decent Work
“where men, women and the youth
have productive and remunerative employment
in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.”
Our partners –employers and government
–should go beyond pledges for Decent Work
and rate themselves on the basis of actual accomplishments!

We join the 100th International Labor Conference with great hopes.

Decent Work  for Domestic Work

We express full concurrence
to adopt the proposed instruments
on Decent Work for Domestic Workers.
We can make a difference on the work and life,
of those who provide crucial household
and care services to make all other work possible.
Collectively, let us improve their conditions
by voting for ILO Convention and Recommendation
on Decent Work for Domestic Workers
and end their long history of exclusion.

The TUCP and other Philippine trade unions
share a very special concern for domestic workers,
in our country and overseas.
We will continue our efforts
to ensure that domestic workers
are provided adequate protection, in law and in practice.

On Labour Administration and Labour Inspection

Saddled with many difficulties,
including rapid technological changes and fund constraints,
labour administration continue to face many challenges.
However, with tripartism,
we are making modest achievements in the Philippines.

Workers’ participation in labor standards or policy-making,
as well as implementation
and ensuring compliance, IS IMPROVING.

Recently, Mr. President,
the Philippines’ tripartite partners
adopted the Labor and Employment Agenda
–our roadmap to promoting Decent Work
within the 2010-2016 time frame.

With the DOLE Leadership
and with agreement among tripartite constituents,
we have established a tripartite monitoring body
that looks at complaints and violations of trade union
and other human rights.
We have set up Tripartite Efficiency and Integrity Boards
within the Department of Labor and attached agencies
to ensure better implementation of standards,
and more rapid and pro-active responses to labor concerns.
We have also agreed to a single-entry approach
to ensure quicker labor dispute resolution.

Unions can do so much for better results
in Labour Inspection and labor administration.
Unions should be assisted in capacity-building
for appropriate knowledge and skills
and provided with an enabling environment
to participate in inspection.
With few labour inspectors,
UNION PARTICIPATION IS THE BETTER WAY.

On Social Protection (Social Security)

Inadequate social protection plagues workers,
in many countries, including the Philippines.
Efforts being undertaken
to provide better security for workers must be doubled.
We expect progress on the union-proposed
unemployment security in the Philippines.
We also need improved programs on:
(1)    workplace prevention and control
of the silent but growing incidence of HIV infection;
(2) maternity protection; and
(3) reproductive health, among others.

However, Mr. President,
we firmly believe that UNIONS, JOB SECURITY AND DECENT WAGES
REMAIN THE BEST SOCIAL PROTECTION
THAT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN HAVE.

We need better answers
to the scourge of contractualization
in my country and the rest of the world.

Contractual employment and sub-contracting
have been used to subvert trade union rights
and undermine collective bargaining agreements.
Our struggle for justice in Philippine Airlines comes to mind.
Such practice threatens unions
and will reverse gains  from our years and years
of struggle for workers.

Conclusion

Yes, Mr. President!
Let us have a “NEW MODEL FOR GROWTH”,
–ONE THAT IS INCLUSIVE, EQUITABLE AND FAIR.
Eight years into ILO’s centenary and four years
into the conclusion of the Asian Decent Work Decade,
let us, together, practice the values espoused by the ILO
which we all stand for
–LASTING PEACE BASED ON SOCIAL JUSTICE.

Thank you Mr. President.