PHILIPPINE PROGRESS in addressing labor issues is slated to come under review next year as the United States Trade Representative (USTR) office studies a complaint involving the Philippines’ status as a Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiary.
“As part of past GSP annual reviews … [the USTR] accepted for review petitions to modify the GSP status of certain … beneficiary developing countries because of country practices,” it said in a Dec. 12 notice calling for a January 24 public hearing on a four year-old case.
“[T]he ongoing reviews of outstanding country practice petitions [are] related to concerns about internationally recognized worker rights and/or child labor in Bangladesh, Niger, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan,” the USTR added.
The GSP, renewed by US President Barack Obama last month, grants eligible developing and least developed economies affordable access to the US market in a bid to stimulate domestic productivity among America’s partners. Over 4,800 products from 129 beneficiary countries are allowed to enter the US duty-free through the scheme.
The program, however, requires beneficiaries to take effective steps toward upgrading and implementing labor standards. They stand to lose preferential treatment otherwise as in the case of Belarus, which was suspended in 2000 for failing to protect workers’ rights to association and collective bargaining.
The Philippines was the subject of a 2007 complaint from the International Labor Rights Forum, a US-based non-profit entity, which asked the USTR to investigate unionist killings between 2001 and 2007, systematic denial by government of workers right to freedom of association, and Dole Philippines, Inc.’s alleged exploitation of contractual pineapple farmers.
The case involving Dole Philippines was suspended in 2008 but the others remain subject to ongoing reviews.
Sought for comment, Labor Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz said in a text message yesterday: “We are regularly reporting progress on government commitments on cases in legislative agenda.”
The renewed GSP is scheduled to remain effective until July 31, 2013. — EJD, Businessworld
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #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
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
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