Big Picture, Small stories on Labor Perspective

Quezon City –  In the first Round Table Discussion hosted by Solidarity Center Philippines and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. Based on PSA Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment, 2022: Data on contractualizations from Ibon Foundation, 2019 and NWPC Data an over four million minimum wage earners, 2024.

That over 10 million contractual workers, 4 million wage earners and 1million residing in National Capital Region. As of July 2023 15.1%underemployment rate with 7.1 million underemployed workers. And about 48-50 million working age population 15-64 year old with 5.35 million total paid employees working in formal establishments. 6.5% are unionized workers and 8.4% are covered by Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) or the negotiated contract between employer and trade union. 

The Philippines faces significant challenges in upholding worker rights ranking among the 10 worst countries for workers according to ITUC. On today Philippine Labor 101 by Carlos Miguel Onate, Legislative Officer, TUCP. On worker stories from underrepresented industries are D’luxe Bags Worker Association Catherine Gayo, Education Officer, ALU: Mitsumi Philippines Workers Union Elizabeth Gomez, President:  Juan Wing Association of the Philippines Cecilio Seno III, National Vice President. ALU. US-PH Worker-Centered Trade Relations Andre Garcia. Program Officer, Solidarity Center Philippines and Luis Corral, Vice President for National & International Affairs, TUCP. On US PH worker center trade relations. President Biden’s Global Labor Strategy that highlights the intersections labor with national and economic security. 

Directs US agencies to engage with labor organizations. Explicitly states the elevation of labor violations, including anti union harassment. Engagement with US Embassy, US government, position of Regional Labor Officer based in the Philippines. Engagement with unions, Solidarity center and AFL-CIO collaboration of unions to help highlight issue in Washington. 

On the key issue on violations on freedom of association, collective bargaining and contractualization, trade and investment framework and agreement (TIFA) Labor working group. On priority luzon economic cortidor on key industries on BPOs, garments, semi-cons and related infrastructure, power. 

Onate called to house speaker Romualdez to priority wage increase to legislated wage increase.

Testimonial on the benefit of union. To have a effective benefits of workers aside for benefits given by the company. Like in the case on juan wing associations of the philippines the union worker group of cebu pacific company. That true union will have addition benefit per hour of each flight allowance according to Rolan Santos.

On the presentation of Andre Garcia, Solidarity Center Philippines. Whole of government approach according to Biden US luzon strategy is the freedom of association and collective bargaining. Very integral jn US Phil Trade Relations for the lot of investment coming in to meet labor sector and trade union. Especially in Subic, Clark and Batangas Economic zone.

The worker and the middle class, for the first time on October last year the United Auto Workers on CBA lots of sacrifice on pandemics. Significant invited United Auto Workers to President Biden Harris Administration. According to Mark Villena of ALU TUCP