TRADE UNIONS SHOUT OUT FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY WORKPLACES, SECURED JOBS AND INCOME AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC
This year's October 7, annual celebration for World Decent Work marks the 12th Year of recognizing the Trade Union victories in achieving freedom and justice and light for decent work. The IndustriALL Philippine affiliates celebration for this year is centered on the theme ''Manggagawa Kaligtasan, Kalusugan at Kabuhayan tiyakin sa panahon ng Pandemya''. Against the backdrop of the spread of coronavirus Covid-19), the world of work changed for the worse. The Philippines had not been spared by the pandemic, imposes community quarantine as a containment measure without taking into account the impact of such to employment and income of the people, especially the working poor.
Many of the workers denied the elusive financial assistance, often neglected by scarce relief goods distribution by the local government units, lack of public transportation, inaccessible social services and lack of income. Unemployment especially for the young and newly entrants in the labor force soared high. Retrenchment and lay-offs were being issued by employers left and right seemingly affected by the slowing down of the economy or using the pandemic as an excuse to curtail the right of workers to organize and secure permanent jobs. In addition, the Women workers are also vulnerable to abuse and harassment.
Again. without any consultation from the affected sectors, the government decided to ease quarantines not because of its effectiveness in containing the pandemic but due to the weak economy that can not endure any longer.
Workers who have no other choice, are confronted with uncertainty whether they can sustain their jobs, livelihood and safety at work under the new normal. Trade Unions step in to take its active role in mobilizing and extending support to members and workers at large by distributing provisions for health workers like face masks, face shields and hand sanitizers, even food and other hygienic needs.
But, this alone is not enough, government and policy makers as well as employers should take its toll by ensuring that approriate safety and health protection should be accorded to the workers and people amid the Covid-19 Pandemic.
In this year's World Day for Decent Work, the IndustriALL Philippines affiliates are shouting out and pushes workers demands on the following:
1. Conduct Mass Testing combined with efficient contact tracing and isolation.
2. Provide paid quarantine leave.
3. Mandatory Establishment of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) committees even in establishments were workers are organized into unions.
4.Companies strict compliance with: a.) cleaning and disinfection of workplaces by closing the company and not just a particular section. b.) provision of free and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers.
5. PEZA and LGU's to recognize labor unions as social partners and to be involved in regular consultations, joint monitoring and in the design and implementation of safety and health guidelines.
In short term, the unions call for the appropriate government agencies to respond on the immediate proposals.
For the Employees Compensation Commission to classify Covid-19 as an Occupational disease. For the Department of Labor and Employment to strengthen the labor inspectorate system and to ensure employment and security of income most especially women and young workers are guaranteed and protected.
Those interested to join the Zoom conference may contact Mr. Ramon Certeza (Coordinator) and Ms. Lorna Ferrer (Regional Officer), Industriall Global Union Philippines. Mobile: 0929- 6019097 (Smart) (VerGarciaBlogs)
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