Nationwide protests set vs working conditions

MANILA, Philippines — Labor groups are gearing up for protest actions in different workplaces nationwide to express their dismay over deteriorating worker conditions under the Duterte administration.

Lito Ustarez, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) vice chair, yesterday called on workers to mount various protest activities in workplaces during their lunch break.

“We call on all Filipino workers and advocates to launch protest actions this payday to condemn the Duterte administration’s neglect of Filipino workers and worsening attacks on Filipino workers and union organizers,” Ustarez said in a statement.

He said workers can wear ribbons, stage noise barrage or lunchtime protest actions.

Since Duterte assumed the presidency three years ago, Ustarez said the only change that has come for Filipino workers is a paltry wage increase not even enough to keep up with the high inflation rate.

“Millions of workers and their families are suffering from hunger,” he pointed out.

He said Filipino workers are subjected to further depression of wages, unsafe working conditions and curtailment of workers’ rights to unionize and organize. 

Union leaders and organizers, he said, became targets of harassment, physical violence and arrest on false charges.

Ustarez said Duterte’s campaign promises of higher wages and regularization of all Filipino workers have yet to happen.

In fact, he said, Duterte even pushed for anti-worker policies such as the soon to be approved Security of Tenure (SOT) law which they expect to legitimize illegal forms of contractualization.

Likewise, workers group Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) expressed doubt that the proposed SOT bill will put a stop to the illegal end of contract (endo) employment scheme.

SENTRO called on Congress to correct the flaws and come out with a better version of the SOT bill when the 18th Congress opens.

The group dared Sen. Joel Villanueva, principal author and sponsor of the bill, to resign should the SOT bill fail to put an end to endo by the end of the year.