OFWs in sex-for-fly scandal called to file criminal charges against government officials

PRESS RELEASE

25 June 2013

In the light of sex-for-fly schemes expose of Akbayan Representative Walden Bello and revelation of certain victims, the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) is calling on all women OFWs sexually abused, prostituted and exploited in any way by government personnel in the Middle East and North Africa to file criminal charges against them. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs in a statement said that it will conduct investigations, review existing rules and operating procedures, increase capacity for intelligence-gathering, and re-orientation lectures and re-orientation on gender sensitivity, sexual harassment and human rights.

“We agree that the DFA should be doing these, and about time.  But those who are found involved and found guilty should be both held administratively and criminally liable,” asserted PM Secretary-General Judy Ann Miranda.  “Hindi uubra ang simpleng pagtanggal, suspensyon o paglilipat ng opisina sa mga government personnel na ito.  Kung kaya hinihikayat namin ang lahat ng biktimang OFWs na mag-sampa ng kasong criminal.  These government personnel should be punished and jailed,” she added.

Ms. Miranda explained that there are numerous groups and individuals who would be willing to help to make sure that justice is served for the women OFWs.

Advisory: Multisectoral Caucus on FOI People’s Initiative tom

Media Advisory

June 25, 2013

Partido ng Manggagawa

Contact Yuen Abana @ 09162811934

What: Labor groups will lead a conference on legislating the FOI bill through people’s initiative

When: Tomorrow, June 26, 4:00-7:00 pm

Where: PALEA protest camp, near Terminal 2 NAIA

Details: A mini concert will follow the caucus

Group calls on DOLE to promote decent work not just healthy living in BPOs

Press Release

May 30, 2013

Inter-Call Center Association of Workers (ICCAW)

A newly formed group of call center workers called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to promote decent work in BPO’s in the face of reports of violations of labor standards in the industry.

“We welcome the Labor and Health Departments’ campaign for healthy living among BPO workers. But we also call on the DOLE to uphold decent work among call center companies as e-sweatshops are proliferating in the industry. Sweatshop conditions not just stressful work are a problem of BPO employees,” said Sylvio Dorig, spokesperson of Inter-Call Center Association of Workers (ICCAW).

ICCAW is a DOLE-registered workers association for mutual aid and protection. Dorig issued the call as a group of call center workers complained of underpayment of wages and non-payment of benefits against their former employer. Six ex-employees of the Ortigas-based E-Global International Communications Inc. owned by Mr. Eugene Go filed cases at the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) last May 20 for violations of labor standards including illegal dismissal.

ICCAW is also supporting the fight of employees of Cordia Philippines, a call center based in Cebu City’s Asiatown I.T. Park. Earlier this year some 76 Cordia workers filed cases of illegal closure, non-payment of salaries and non-remittance of their mandated benefits at the Region 7 branch of the NLRC.

“We were paid only P200 a day for the five months that we worked at E-Global. Further we received no overtime pay, holiday pay, rest day premium, service incentive leave, 13^th month pay and cost of living allowance,” averred Jiaffy Domingo, one of the E-Global call center agents. Aside from Domingo, the complainants are Janice Bicera, Rissa Joy R. Ricafrente, Maricel Gatoc, Bryan Dango and Walter Dango.

Yesterday several E-Global workers trooped to the Social Security System with the assistance of the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) and verified that the company was not remitting deductions. A notice will be sent to E-Global to comply within a month’s time after which a case can then be filed against the company.

PM national chair Renato Magtubo averred that “A sunshine industry and dollar earning sector like the BPO should have no room for sweatshops. The DOLE must strictly regulate this fast growing industry in the interest of more than 600,000 workers since E-Global and Cordia are not the only BPO sweatshops around.”

In July last year, some 600 employees were laid off overnight when the Cebu City-based Direct Access abruptly shutdown. After a few months of protests, the Direct Access workers got their money claims and separation pay. As a result of that labor dispute, ICCAW was formed to be “a voice for BPO workers regarding specific grievances and general concerns.”

Workers complain of BPO sweatshop

Press Release

May 29, 2013

A group of call center workers are complaining of underpayment of wages and non-payment of benefits against their former employer which they have lambasted as a “BPO sweatshop.” Six ex-employees of the Ortigas-based E-Global International Communications, Inc. filed cases at the National Labor Relations Commission last May 20 for violations of labor standards including illegal dismissal.

Jiaffy Domingo, one of the call center agents, declared that “We were paid only P200 a day for the five months that we worked at E-Global. Further we received no overtime pay, holiday pay, rest day premium, service incentive leave, 13^th month pay and cost of living allowance.” The statutory minimum wage in Metro Manila stands at P456. Aside from Domingo, the complainants are Janice Bicera, Rissa Joy R. Ricafrente, Maricel Gatoc, Bryan Dango and Walter Dango. The last three worked for around two months in the company before all six were illegally dismissed in February this year.

Today several of the E-Global workers are filing cases at the Social Security System with the assistance of the militant Partido ng Manggagawa (PM). PM national chair Renato Magtubo averred that “E-Global is evidently an e-sweatshop no different from the abusive conditions in an illicit garments subcontractor, for example. A sunshine industry and dollar earning sector like the BPO should have no room for sweatshops. It behooves the Department of Labor and Employment to strictly regulate this fast growing industry in the interest of more than 600,000 workers since E-Global is not the only BPO sweatshop around.”

According to its website (http://eglobalcom-inc.com/about.html), E-Global’s President and CEO is Eugene C. Go and is a subsidiary of the American TESOL Institute in the Philippines, “operating and serving its call center requirements and providing the highest quality BPO provisions.” Its corporate address is the prestigious Suite 701, Pacific Center Building, No. 33 San Miguel Aveneue, Ortigas Business Center in Pasig City.

In Cebu, PM had helped workers who have fallen victim to illegal terminations by similar BPO sweatshops and fly-by-night call centers. In July last year, some 600 employees were laid off overnight when their employer, the Cebu City IT Park Asiatown-based Direct Access, abruptly shutdown. After a few months of protests, the Direct Access workers got their money claims and separation pay.

As a result of the labor disputes in Cebu, the Inter-Call Center Association of Workers (ICCAW) was formed as an organization for mutual aid and protection and to represent members regarding specific grievances and general concerns.

Labor group asks Taiwan government to ensure safety and job security of Filipino workers

PRESS RELEASE

22 May 2013

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 A Philippine labor group, on Wednesday, called on the Taiwanese government to ensure the safety and job security of thousands of Filipinos working in Taiwan. 

In a picket held at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Makati City, the Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines) likewise appealed to the Taiwanese people to refrain from using violence against Filipino workers who have nothing to do with the current diplomatic row between the two countries over the death of a Taiwanese fisherman off the Balintang channel last May 9.

“We appeal to both the Taiwanese and Philippine governments to solve their diplomatic row not at the expense of our OFWs.  Pending the result of investigations and the satisfaction of Taiwan’s demand for justice for fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, the safety and job security of Filipino workers in Taiwan must also be ensured as they face actual physical violence and threats of job loss,” stated Partido ng Manggagawa spokesperson Wilson Fortaleza.

Fortaleza said President Ma Ying-jeou’s order to freeze the hiring of Filipinos and a veiled threat of expulsion against the 87,000 OFWs currently working in Taiwan are both unfair and unjust.

“As workers, we are likewise interested in seeing justice served finally to fellow worker Hung and we won’t condone failure or inaction on the part of the Philippine government.  But the quest of justice for Mr. Hung should not lead to unjust actions of fury against thousands of Filipinos in Taiwan,” said Fortaleza.

The labor party reiterated that migrant workers and their families are protected by international conventions (International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families) as migrants’ rights are human rights. 

Migrants have the right to equal protection, non-discrimination, to work in safe working conditions and to be protected against unjust dismissal.