Some 500 workers led by the Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition marched ahead of the worldwide 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) at the University of the Philippines, Diliman as well as in Cebu and Bacolod, to call for an end to all forms of violence and for the ratification of ILO Convention 190 that addresses violence in the world of work.
Raising their banners, the women workers said: "We Vow to End VAW," as their collective commitment to pressure government ratification of ILO C.190 and a renewed culture of respect, safety and non-discrimination.
“Low wages, high prices, unemployment , and contractualization are vicious issues that plague Filipino women everyday. It is a form of economic violence which prevents women from living a life of dignity,” said Judy Miranda, head of the Nagkaisa! Women Committee (NWC), who led the labor sector’s protest action.
“We can only truly celebrate to End VAW when women have regular jobs, receive living wages, quality public services and are free from human rights violations and war atrocities,” added Miranda, who is also Partido Manggagawa Secretary General.
“We need to stop harassment and violence at work, particularly against women and girls,” said Atty. Sonny Matula, chairperson of Nagkaisa!
“We might not know it but many are suffering from such violence in our work premises, offices, schools and other places of work. We need to discover, expose and oppose it. There is no decent work if our fellow workers are suffering harassment and violence at work,” Matula added.
The loudest call of the predominantly women marchers is the ratification of ILO Convention 190 Concerning the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. Adopted in June 2019, ILO C. 190 is an assertion by the global community that violence and harassment in the world of work will not be tolerated and must end.
“Twenty-two countries have ratified the ILO C. 190. As one of the countries that supported its adoption, we in the Philippines should add our voices,” said Nice Coronacion, of the NWC.
“As we celebrate the International Day on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women, the ratification of ILO C. 190 will be one of our contributions in the fight to end all forms of injustice from domestic violence, rape, homophobia, sexual harassment, pornography, trafficking and prostitution,” added Coronacion, who is also Sentro Deputy Secretary General.
Public Services International (PSI) Philippine affiliates joined the national day of action for the ratification of ILO C. 190 to also start off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in the Philippines.
“Public workers in the Philippines, around 60% of whom are women, continue to experience various forms of violence and harassment including physical abuse, verbal and emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence. Exacerbating the situation are the attacks against union rights of public workers through union harassment and intimidation, red-tagging and unfair labor practices,” said Jillian Roque of the Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK).
Ratifying C190 will strengthen protection of public workers regardless of their employment status including the growing number of informal and precarious workers in the public sector such as the job orders, contract of service and even our Barangay Health Workers.
It is alarming that more than 640,000 workers in government are denied their rights to fair wages, job security and social protection. This number does not even include the 260,000 Barangay Health Workers all over the country who are predominantly women and serve as our primary health care frontliners but are not even considered as employees.
Photos can be accessed here: https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid05CNihboQ3LNMQe3678tdrfxBxCpGdixMwMS1qb1D4X3FWAWpqcLBuCWgxnBHYQKel
Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition Women’s Committee
25 November 2022
