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for the chaos over the no vaccination, no ride policy to which the PM demanded that the controversial order be withdrawn immediately.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

 

Sorry not enough, repeal no vaccination, no ride policy—labor group

 

Photo from the internet

In response to the declaration of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello that the government should apologize for the confusion over the no vaccination, no ride policy, the labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) asserted that the controversial order be withdrawn immediately.

 

“Sorry is not good enough. Apologies will not bring back the lost pay of daily paid workers who have been barred from public transport by enforcers since last week. It is not over eagerness on the part of enforcers but impunity of security forces who have been given a free pass since the onset of the pandemic to implement discriminatory policies and double standards in enforcement. Kapag VIP's malaya, kapag mahirap kawawa ngayong pandemya,” declared Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

 

He called on Secretary Bello to immediately convene a meeting with labor groups to hear their concerns about policies such as no vaccination, no ride and no jab, no job. “A planned dialogue between Department of Labor and Employment officials and Nagkaisa labor coalition leaders last week did not push through again. Instead of social dialogue, the government is exercising social distancing with labor groups,” Magtubo asserted.

 

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 Transportations’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 19, 2022

Labor group slams new DOLE order extending forced leave

The militant labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) today slammed a new order from the Department of Labor and Employment that effectively extends the floating status of workers beyond the maximum of six months provided for in the Labor Code. DO 215 entitled “Rule Amending Section 12 Rule 1, Rules Implementing Book VI of the Labor Code on Suspension of the Employment Relationship” was signed on October 23, 2020 by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello.

 

“Extension of the floating status of workers beyond the six months maximum through a DO is illegal as it is tantamount to executive legislation. The water cannot rise above its source,” declared Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.

 

Magtubo cited that Article 301 of the Labor Code does not provide for an extension of the six month maximum of forced leave or floating status: “When Employment Not Deemed Terminated—The bona fide suspension of operation of a business or undertaking for a period not exceeding six (6) months, or the fulfillment by the employee of a military or civic duty shall not terminate the employment. In all such cases, the employer shall reinstate the employee to his former position without loss of seniority rights if he indicates his desire to resume work not later than one (1) month from the resumption of operations of his employer or from his relief from the military or civic duty.”

 

The PM leader revealed that the labor coalition Nagkaisa labor groups is coordinating for a campaign for the repeal of the “blatantly pro-employer” DO 215 and to file a legal challenge at the Supreme Court.

 

“DO 215 is deceptively presented by the DOLE as an amendment to the existing implementing rules and regulations when in truth it revises the clear mandates of Article 301 of the Labor Code. In a tripartite dialogue, labor groups had expressed the opposition to the proposal on the grounds that it contravenes existing law and that it opens workers to employer abuse,” Magtubo elaborated.

 

He added that “This is another instance of DOLE’s social distancing from workers in the time of covid. Earlier DOLE released a series of orders and advisories such as DO 213 that suspended complaints and inspections and LA 17 that allowed diminution of wages and benefits. All these disadvantaged workers impacted by the lockdown. Labor’s challenge finally led to DO 213’s repeal by DO 214 which permitted the operation of the dispute resolution mechanisms for workers.” 

October 27, 2020

Sen. Pimentel’s action a test to “Bayanihan”

If ‘we heal as one’ is the real objective of the recently enacted Bayanihan Act, then Sen. Koko Pimentel’s irresponsible action at MMC can never lift the bayanihan spirit of a nation in crisis. He and the many politicians who enjoy VIP treatment represent the most disgusting form of social distancing in this age of pandemic. His refusal to take full responsibility for what he did only shows he continues to maintain a feeling of entitlement exposes another meaning of handwashing in the time of Duterte's lockdown.

Yet, as cov-positive himself, Sen. Pimentel needs to be treated with utmost care, his wife and his child as well.  But as a lawmaker who knows how to play power in jabbing people to follow the rules of a strong government, he also must be held accountable for what he has been preaching.

#GamutinPeroPanagutin

26 March 2020