There are no more Labor experts in Congress
Unlike during the Marcos regime, Labor is not in the top five priorities of this administration. They talk of drugs, crimes, graft, terrorism. But Labor, who cares about Labor? And yet 60 million out of 110 million Filipinos are in the labor force.
Labor isn’t given priority by Congress. There are no more genuine Labor advocates. There was a time when we have had giant pillars in Labor laws in the Senate, like the one and only Blas Ople, Cebu's pride Ernesto Herrera, and in the House, the late Alberto Veloso of Leyte. Today, we can count with our fingers some true experts on Labor laws. That is why no one is focusing on the review and revision of the Labor Code of the Philippines, which is vintage 1974.
With the sole exception of Senator Franklin Drilon, in the Senate, one of our finest DOLE secretaries, (he may even be among my top three, after Ople and Nieves Confesor), and a long-time management lawyer representing ACCRAW Law and counsel for giant corporations like San Miguel Corp. and many multi-nationals, there is no other Labor law expert in the Senate. In the House, there more than 100 lawyers, but I can only name Vicente Veloso of Leyte, younger brother of the late Alberto Veloso, as a true expert in Labor laws. Also from ACCRAW Law, he was an NLRC Commissioner, a Court of Appeals justice and an Ateneo Labor law professor.
Today, with due respect, who heads the Senate Labor committee? Senator Joel Villanueva? I have nothing against him, but does he have a full and comprehensive mastery of Labor legislation and administration? What does he know about the laws and jurisprudence on Book One, the statutes of overseas employment? What is his grounding on the Migrant Workers' Act or Republic Act 8042, as amended by Republic Act 10022? Is he properly informed and advised on the extent and depth of our recurrent problems involving OFWs? Has he seen the suffering of domestic helpers? Is he properly informed about the dirty, difficult, dangerous, deceptive, and degrading work being performed by many of our migrant workers?
Is he sufficiently oriented with the laws on labor-only contracting, the nuances of wage formulation, and the statutes on occupational safety? Is he familiar with the laws and jurisprudence on unionism and collective bargaining, on unfair labor practices and strikes? Did he even conduct any inquiry, in aid of legislation on the efficiency and effectiveness of the current labor-dispute settlement agencies?
We should ask the same squestion of the chairman of the Labor Committee, a certain Congressman Enrico Pineda. In the first place, from where is he and what does his party-list, 1-PACMAN, represent, that involves labor and employment? His committee handles all matters directly and principally relating to labor and employment, the protection of the rights of the working class, and promotion of industrial peace. What is his background and technical preparation for such an important committee? Forgive the irreverence, we don’t mean any insult. We are only asking. It’s our right to know because this is such an important responsibility. What, by the way, was the basis for this choice?
Labor issues directly affect 60 million Filipinos and the rest who rely on labor for livelihood. Yet, it is entrusted in Congress to politicians who have never been either an employee or an employer in the real sense of the word. This nation is losing its focus. What is happening to the Philippines?
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