After being illegally dismissed on June 2002, union member Sherwin Robosa received the National Labor Relations Commission’s decision on his illegal dismissal case, which ordered management to reinstate him and to pay his backwages worth Php 135, 242.63, on January 21, 2004.

Employers have perfected a new practice in attempting to bust unions. If warnings, threats, intimidation, harassment, transfers of union officers and activists, “carrots”, delaying tactics in hearings, etc. do not work, there is still that ‘legal means’ to thwart union formation . That’s the temporary restraining order (TRO).

What country is being referred to? Flagrant violations of core labour standards in xxx Brussels, 16 January 2008 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC released a new report today showing that all core labour standards, even if ratified, are violated massively and flagrantly in xxx.

There are many laws, rules and regulations upholding the rights of women workers in the country. Despite, many women workers (especially unionists) are victims of discrimination, harassment and abuse in their work places. Oftentimes, women tolerate dire conditions and shun complaining or more forceful action for fear of losing their jobs. Consider what women put…

Roh Fung, the Korean manager of Royal House, Inc. [not their real names] pointed a 45-caliber pistol at sewer Sebastian Andres [not his real name] after he balked at signing a resignation letter and a blank sheet of paper – which later contained a statement that Andres was apologizing for causing damage to the company…

(Forced overtime, a new form of forced labor, also hazardous to health) To meet export orders, many Philippine companies, including those inside economic zones, are resorting to a new form of forced labor — long, long hours of forced (many times under-compensated) overtime.

(Yet underpays them for all the effort.) Workers of Assembly Apparel (not its real name) say the company gave out Duromine Phentermine-not ordinarily prescribed by doctors-to workers to keep them awake during once a week overnight work dating back to September 2002. Aside from the drug, the company also provides workers with Extra Joss, an…

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Business process outsourcing (BPO) operations such as call centers have generated as much as $3.36 billion this year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

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Touted as the country’s leading source of employment, call centers are now also considered a threat to the health of many young professionals.

THE 266,000 jobs that the government has so far generated this year from its information and communications technology (ICT) efforts may grow to more than one million in 2010, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) said.

MANILA, Philippines — To keep up with the industry’s rapid growth, some business process outsourcing (BPO) companies flock to less-than-ideal places like shopping malls for lack of enough office space.

The Philippine call center industry is expected to grow threefold in the next four years with annual revenue projected at $7.3 billion in 2010 and capacity at 500,000 seats, venture capitalist Intellectual Property Ventures Group Corp. (IP Ventures) said.

The Philippines isn’t building enough office space to meet demand from call centers and other outsourcing companies, Colliers International Property Consultants Inc. said.

WOMEN who work at night, like those employed in call centers, could be prone to breast cancer and menstrual problems, according to an Institute for Occupation Health and Safety Development official.

CALL CENTERS are turning more and more to gimmicks and gadgets — aside from offering higher wages — to reel in the few skilled workers still looking for jobs, an industry official said.

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COMMITTEE ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE REPUBLIC HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE X (LOCAL GOVERNMENT) OF THE 1987 CONSTITUTION (Approved subject to style, by the Plenary on 13 December 2005)

“Management and workers must work hand in hand. Not only for the company’s success but also for the sake of the employees.” Brussels, 22 November 2005 (ICFTU OnLine): No union-busting activity. No unfair labour practices. No sexual harassment. Unlike many of EPZ employees in the Philippines, Josephine de Jesus doesn’t have much to complain about….

Brussels, 21 November 2005 (ICFTU OnLine): What works in mobilizing Philippine workers? Send them short messages through their cell phones! Anna Lee M. Fos, Research Officer from Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), explains their strategy to combat tactics used to bust local unions in the export-processing zones (EPZs).

Whilst unquestionably constituting an important source of employment, these EPZs fuelling international trade and the profits of the world’s leading electronics and clothing brands, are characterised by their dismal working conditions. Conditions that are worsening as a result of the race to the bottom in labour standards following the deregulation of the global market.

(a true story) I didn’t want to be a call center agent. I had other plans. I was aiming high.

  CALL center workers must have free medical checkups, free transport services, and be allowed to work in a compressed or flexible time arrangement, a senator proposed Tuesday.