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
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
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
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
