UNITED WORKERS
Press Statement | May 29, 2020
LARGEST LABOR GROUPS LAMBAST DOLE FOR ANTI-WORKER POLICIES
Organized labor minced no words as they collectively lambasted the Department of Labor and Employment’s twin issuances—Labor Advisory 17 (LA17) and Department Order 213 (DO 213)—for being blatantly anti-worker.
In a joint virtual press conference, Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and Pagkakaisa ng Uring Manggagawa (Paggawa) with various unions and workers associations came together as the United Workers Coalition to call for the scrapping of both issuances.
“Our call is for “Balik Trabahong Ligtas” since workers have the right to retun to work only under safe and healthy conditions,” said Atty. Sonny Matula, chairperson of Nagkaisa.
“Now that even more workers will be trooping back to work come June 1, we are being forced to put our lives on the line just to keep industries and the whole economy going. Instead of getting the full support of government, we are being left to fend for ourselves, or worse, it is making things more difficult for us,” said Matula, reacting to the relegation of NCR to General Community Quarantine status.
“Labor Advisory 17 was released in bad taste, with very bad timing. It encourages and practically gives employers the power to slash wages. This, while we are in the thick of negotiations with management for hazard pay,” said Matula.
Paggawa spokesperson and NCL national president Ernesto Arellano said that “both LA17 and D0213 serve the selfish interests of the employers, who, even before the COVID19 pandemic, have been pushing for labor flexibilization by removing standardized wages, regular hours of work, and fixed benefits for tenured employees.”
“Manggagawang ginutom na, pipigain pa! This government has totally abandoned its responsibility to the Filipino workers and people. After two months of lockdown without means to support their families, the workers are now left at the mercy of companies. This government has no compassion at all even in this time of crisis,” said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.
Nagkaisa, KMU and Paggawa are the biggest labor coalitions and labor centers in the country.
“Workers must be the last to sacrifice in the attempt to keep businesses afloat because they were last to benefit from the profits they created when the economy was booming. The labor movement must unite and display class solidarity to become the inspiration for the millions of unorganized workers, especially at a time when competition amongst ourselves, as sellers in the labor market is being provoked by the propertied elite,” said Arellano.
With Metro Manila and other urban centers to be placed in general community quarantine status, more workers will be returning to work with no guarantee to safe work and transit, as no mass testing has determined the extent of COVID-19 infection in the country. “The Labor Department should be the one with oversight on matters of health and safety of workers once they go back to work. The workers are now being placed in a very difficult and precarious situation. Are their work places safe? Do they have safe means of transportation? Are their jobs and income secured? These are matters that should be guaranteed by government,” said Labog.
“Then, DOLE does not oblige employers to shuttle their employees from their residence to the workplace and back, while public transportation like jeepneys and busses—the most accessible means of transportation for workers, continue to be banned. Workers have really been left behind,” added Matula. ###
Contact:
Atty. Sonny Matua, Nagkaisa: 09178079041
Atty. Ernesto Arellano, Paggawa: 09171572429
Elmer Labog, KMU: 09081636597
