Union groups push for employment security, decent work

BUTUAN CITY, June 7 (PIA) — Union members from the different national unions under the National Trade Union Center (NTUC) are pushing for decent work, including living wages, and job security for employees.

In the recent workshop on Employment Security and Constructive Industrial Relations held in Quezon City, NTUC union members called on the national government to step up its drive to stop employers from their “exploitive employment arrangements” and urged the regularization of contractuals. A similar workshop was held in Subic, Zambales.

“Regularization of contractuals would invigorate the Philippine trade union movement, as they qualify for union membership,” said a statement from NTUC.

“Contractuals would get wages and terms and conditions of work mandated under national laws and regulations,” it added.

In his statement, NTUC President Atty. Rodolfo Capoquian said the activity is a good opportunity for their members for considering and planning further work in this highly-globalized future.

“We continue the call to end contractualization in the private and public sector and to speed up decisions on pending cases of regularization,” Capoquian said.

Also during the activity, participants were able to gain valuable lessons and insights on Japanese industrial relations from Toshikazu Saito of the Japan International Labour Foundation (JILAF), a non-governmental organization and non-profit organization set up by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO) in May 1989, to promote international cooperation in the field of labor, as well as on the Future of Work from the ILO resource person.

Saito also shared information on productivity principles and characteristics of labor relations in Japan. (FEAbkilan/PIA-Caraga)