Federation of Free Workers - Philippines

As it marched with 30,000 workers on Labor Day, from Welcome Rotunda to Claro M. Recto Avenue–its route to Mendiola cut short by police barricades–the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) renewed calls for higher wages and defense of trade union rights.

The FFW took the opportunity to urge workers to organize more and build real bargaining power to secure wage increases, improve working conditions, and resolve grievances without merely waiting for government (in)action.

According to the Workers Rights Watch (WRW) Report on the State of Freedom of Association in the Philippines, published in cooperation with the Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA) and with the support of the European Union, there have been 109 cases of worker killings affecting union leaders and organizing efforts since 2016, with no one held accountable to date.

The Report also states that at least two labor rights violations are happening every week over the past year, ranging from union busting, illegal dismissal of trade union leaders, to filing of trumped up charges, terror tagging, enforced disappearances and killings.

The FFW has repeatedly called on President Bong Bong Marcos and his Executive Secretary (ES) Ralph Recto, as Chair of the Inter-Agency Committee tasked to convene the Executive Order 23 Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) on Freedom of Association, to immediately activate the mechanism and look into the killings and violations of labor rights, especially to organize.

Inaction is the Lasting Policy
The FFW said Recto must convene the IAC not only to investigate these attacks, but to show concrete results and demonstrate the Marcos government’s performance in protecting freedom of association.

The said IAC last convened more than a year ago, under then ES Lucas Bersamin. Recto, appointed new ES at the height of the flood control mess, has hardly lifted a finger on the matter.
Meanwhile, President Marcos continues to ignore the workers, not even breaking bread with them on Labor Day as all of the previous Presidents have done at least once in their terms.
Today, President Marcos flew to General Santos for Labor Day and in his speech went silent on labor’s demands for a legislated wage hike, removal of excise tax on fuel and value added tax, and for justice for aggrieved workers.

Organize. Demand a living wage. Defend labor rights and the right to unionize.
Workers can build power by organizing against all odds. Because when workers are organized, their voice is not noise—it is power.