Workers urge President Marcos: Discuss freedom of assembly with Biden

MANILA, Philippines —  As a Labor Day gift to workers, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) yesterday called on President Marcos to discuss freedom of assembly with US President Joe Biden.

Labor Day is celebrated in the Philippines every May 1.

“Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden on Labor Day, so FFW hopes that both heads of state will seize the opportunity to discuss (it),” FFW vice president Jun Mendoza said.

Mendoza also asked Marcos to follow Biden’s move to implement several significant measures strengthening the rights of American workers.

By learning from the successes of the Biden-Harris Presidential Task Force, FFW said, the Philippines can address the alarming number of trade union and human rights violations and create a safer and more equitable environment for workers nationwide.

FFW president Sonny Matula said Marcos is departing from the tradition of previous Philippine presidents and will not meet with trade union leaders on May 1 and instead will meet Biden at the White House.

Though he is not meeting with trade groups, FFW said Marcos should still push for programs promoting workers’ rights and welfare.

Matula reiterated the call of FFW and labor coalition Nagkaisa for the immediate creation of a presidential commission on freedom of association to guarantee the right to unionize, empower workers and address ongoing human and trade union rights violations.

He said the creation of this body is the principal recommendation of the ILO-HLTM, whose final report was formally submitted to the Philippine government last March.

The Philippine government, Matula said, can adopt measures ensuring job quality standards and remove impediments to exercising worker rights on government-owned and controlled corporations, state colleges and universities, and local government units.

FFW further asked Marcos to prohibit the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict from red-tagging or harassing trade union leaders and organizers, and from interfering in exercising freedom of association.