Step forward in the protection of female human rights

Representative Juan Edgardo Angara on Wednesday hailed President Benigno Aquino III’s move to sign into law the measure rationalizing nightwork prohibition on women workers

Manila: A recently signed law rationalising nightwork for women workers has been acclaimed by Congress as a step forward in the protection of human rights for the female gender.

Representative Juan Edgardo Angara on Wednesday hailed President Benigno Aquino III’s move to sign into law the measure rationalizing nightwork prohibition on women workers. He said the move by the President reflects the strong commitment of government to promote universal human rights.

“There can only be meaningful development when human rights are respected,” Angara said, adding: “Protecting our women and children must never be sacrificed for the sake of productivity or of economic progress.”

Timely Bill

Angara said that the bill is very timely especially with the increasing demand for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) agents, many of whom are women.

Previous laws involving night time work did not take into consideration the situation of women workers, such as their vulnerability to harassment, as well as the physical and psychological rigors of working during the evening.

“This is very important because the law enhances certain rights of women and will benefit growing industries like our BPOs which contribute a lot at providing employment for our people. The law finally removes restrictive and discriminatory provisions against our women night workers,” Angara added.

Aquino on Tuesday signed into law in simple Palace ceremonies the “Act Rationalizing Nightwork Prohibition on Women Workers, thereby amending Articles 130 and 131 of Presidential Decree 442, as amended, otherwise known as the Labour Code of the Philippines.”

“The signing of this act is also an economic measure because many women in the BPO sector have been unduly prejudiced by this legal accident. We must also do everything we can to protect our position as industry leaders.” the President said.

Since the House of Representatives adopted Senate Bill No. 2701 as an amendment to House Bill No. 4276, the measure did not undergo the usual bicameral conference committee meetings, where conflicting provisions of House and Senate-approved measures on the same subjects are reconciled.

Angara pointed out that during the current decade, the Philippines showed determined efforts to concretize its commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1949.

He cited Philippine laws that really impact on human rights and these, among others, include: the Anti-Violence against women and their children Act of 2004; the Migrant Workers Act of 1995; the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006; the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 and the Magna Carta of Women. –Gilbert P. Felongco, Correspondent, Gulf News