Bello asked to dialogue with labor groups on urgent demands

 

Photo from Asia Nikkei

The workers group Partido Manggagawa (PM) welcomed the announcement of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello that labor inspections will resume for the year 2022 after being suspended last December. “Labor inspections are a key mechanism in ensuring compliance with labor standards and enforcement of occupational safety and health protocols, especially during the pandemic since pasaway employers have weaponized covid and abused workers,” stated Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

 

The group reiterated its call for Secretary Bello to heed the Nagkaisa labor coalition’s request for a dialogue on urgent demands confronting workers such as the no vaccination, no ride and no jab, no job. “A planned dialogue between Department of Labor and Employment officials and Nagkaisa labor coalition leaders has long been delayed. Instead of social dialogue, the government is exercising social distancing with labor groups,” Magtubo asserted.

 

Earlier Secretary Bello apologized for the chaos over the no vaccination, no ride policy to which the PM demanded that the controversial order be withdrawn immediately. “Confusion has arisen over these issues because of lack of social dialogue, among others,” Magtubo averred.

 

PM also welcomed the statements of Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros against the no vaccination, no ride policy. Magtubo said that “We call on Senators Kiko and Risa to open an investigation on the no vaccination, no ride, no jab, no job and similar discriminatory policies.”

 

“These policies are patent discrimination against workers and poor. In contrast, rich people—vaccinated or not—are free to move around since they have cars to use. These unfair and biased policies disproportionately impact people in the laylayan,” Magtubo insisted.

 

He stated that the Department of Transportation’s discriminatory ban on unvaccinated individuals taking public transport is a repeat of the railroading of the jeepney phaseout amid the pandemic lockdown in 2020. “The impromptu jeepney phaseout eliminated the livelihood of several hundred thousand jeepney drivers and operators at a time they needed it most,” Magtubo explained. 

January 24, 2022