Freedom of Association

DOLE keynote address at the Capacity Building Seminar of selected NTIPC-MB, RTMB and CHR representatives on case build-up and documentation

By Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at the Capacity Building Seminar of selected NTIPC-MB, RTMB and CHR representatives on case build-up and documentation, Davao City, Philippines, 8 March 2018

Sa mga kinatawan ng mga manggagawa at employer na nakikilahok sa ating programa ngayon; sa ating mga kasamahan sa International Labor Organization (ILO) na sumusuporta sa aktibidad na ito; at sa ating mga katrabaho sa pamahalaan na naging instrumento sa pagpaplano at pagbuo ng training na ito, isang masigla at mapagpalayang umaga sa ating lahat!

Ngayon pa lamang ay nais na namin kayong pasalamatan dahil sa inyong pakikiisa sa adhikain natin na pagtibayin ang karapatan ng manggagawa sa pag-oorganisa o yung Freedom of Association, kasama na ang Collective Bargaining.

Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining


Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining are fundamental labor rights. Freedom of Association ensures the right of workers to establish and to join organizations of their own choosing without previous authorization, while Collective Bargaining provides a means to develop progressive terms and conditions of employment.

However, industrial peace is not guaranteed solely by the mere exercise of Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. Hindi dito nagtatapos, dahil nagkakaroon lamang ng industrial peace kung ang lahat ng stakeholders ay may “full respect” sa lahat ng karapatan ng mga manggagawa.

All appropriate measures should be taken to guarantee that, irrespective of trade union affiliation, trade union rights can be exercised in normal conditions with respect for basic human rights and in a climate free of violence, pressure, fear and threat of any kind.

Gaps in the Implementation of Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Principles and Standards

Last year, nagkaroon ng Direct Contact Mission noong February 6-10. The Direct Contact Mission was founded on the conclusions adopted by ILO Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) regarding the Philippine application of ILO Convention No. 87, which involve allegations of anti-union violence and the lack of progress in the investigation of many such cases, as well as long-standing requests concerning various legislative aspects, especially as regards trade union registration and certain categories of workers excluded from rights accorded by the Convention.

Pangkaraniwang obserbasyon ng marami sa atin, na ang resolusyon sa mga kaso ng extra-judicial killing, harassment at abduction, ay mabagal. Sa paghanap natin ng solusyon dito, marapat na malaman muna natin ang totoong problema. Ika nga nila, “A PROBLEM WELL-STATED, IS A PROBLEM HALF-SOLVED”. Nasaan ba ang problema? Bago natin matunton kung nasaan ang problema, mahalagang malaman natin kung ano ang buong proseso sa pagresolba ng isang kaso. Saan matatagpuan ang roadblock? Saang estado bumagal o natigil ang proseso at paano tayo makakatulong sa pag-usad nito?

Only if we fully understand the problem, can we work efficiently and effectively to address the gaps. It is not enough that we WORK HARD; we should also strive to WORK SMART!

Challenges in Upholding Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

Simula noon hanggang ngayon, napakarami na ng nagawa upang lalong pagtibayin ang karapatang ito ng mga manggagawa. The Government, in cooperation with the stakeholders, has been consistent in addressing emerging labor, economic and social concerns affecting workers’ rights and exercise thereof.

We have already established all the necessary structures and mechanisms that have the capacity to solve these issues. Recently, the DOLE issued Administrative Order No. 32, series of 2018, establishing the “Operational Guidelines of the National and Regional Tripartite Monitoring Bodies on the Application of International Labor Standards, in particular ILO Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize (No. 87)”. This aims to ensure the full and swift investigation and resolution of the alleged acts of harassment of trade union leaders and members.

Prior to this, several measures have been taken and numerous structures have been constituted to further ensure that crimes, regardless of their gravity, are investigated and prosecuted motu proprio. Mayroon nang AO 35 Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) sa ilalim ng Department of Justice na tumututok sa imbestigasyon, prosekyusyon at resolusyon ng mga pending cases patungkol sa harassment at pagpatay ng labor leaders at trade unionists.

Mayroon ding National Monitoring Mechanism (NMM) sa ilalim ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) na nagmomonitor ng mga kaso ng human rights violations tulad ng extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances at torture.

However, in view of the different independent bodies and structures that were formed, the major challenge now is how to strengthen coordination between and among these independent bodies. At sa pagtupad ng ating sariling mandato, paano ba tayo makakatulong sa buong proseso ng imbestigasyon o prosekyusyon upang mapabilis ang pagresolba ng mga kasong kinasasangkutan ng mga unyon, union leaders at mga miyembro nito?

Hence, the DOLE, in cooperation with ILO-Manila, facilitated the conduct of this Capacity-building Seminar on Case Build-up and Documentation, to aid selected National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council – Monitoring Body (NTIPC-MB), Regional Tripartite Monitoring Body (RTMB), and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) representatives, in their mandate to monitor and fast-track alleged labor-related human rights abuses.

Way Forward

It is expected that the involvement of the members of the NTIPC MB, RTMBs and CHR in this activity, will lead to a strengthened coordination between these bodies, in the gathering and validation of evidence as well as prosecution.

Through this activity, we wish not only to develop among stakeholders a better understanding of investigation, prosecution, case build-up and documentation, but also to strengthen the coordination and collaboration of these existing structures. I am certain that our previous collaborative efforts, along with these continuous capacity-building ventures, shall result in very positive developments in our mandate to promote and protect our workers’ rights and welfare.

Inaasahan po namin ang inyong aktibong pakikilahok, pakikiisa at walang sawang suporta sa aming mga pagsisikap na maiangat ang buhay ng bawat manggagawang Pilipino.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay po tayong lahat!