Press Release
September 23, 2015
The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) welcomed the
enactment of an ordinance in San Juan
outlawing some forms of discrimination in the workplace. Last month San Juan
Mayor Guia Gomez signed the ordinance that was unanimously passed by the city
council. PM however called for its strict implementation and passage of
legislation against other prevalent forms of discrimination.
“Kudos to the local government of San
Juan for its pioneering ordinance. Respeto pa more. Skills and
attitude do matter. Age and looks don’t,” stated Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary
general.
PM is calling for the passage of similar ordinances in other
cities and industrial towns. Also the group is lobbying for the enactment of
pending bills against age discrimination in the workplace, such as the one
authored by Senator Pia Cayetano. “Also discrimination against LGBT workers is
another front in the fight for equality in the world of work,” Miranda
reminded.
She added that “It is common knowledge that employers and
recruitment agencies blatantly and regularly discriminate against workers in
terms of sex, age, looks and marital status. An online search results in examples
of these discriminatory practices popping up like so many unwanted ads. Enough
is enough. Workers demand respect and equality in the workplace.”
Miranda however noted that “The San Juan ordinance stipulates
very light fines thus it may not deter incorrigible employers.”
She said that the Labor Code already bans and imposes fines
on discrimination against women workers in the terms and conditions of
employment such as wages, benefits and promotion on account of sex. Further
discrimination against married and pregnant women workers is also expressly outlawed.
“Still, like other labor standards, these rights are violated with impunity by
employers,” Miranda argued.
She called on women and LGBT workers to be aware of their
rights in the workplace, ensure the implementation of these entitlements and
fight for the outlawing of other forms of discrimination.
Miranda insisted that “Women workers in the Philippines have won some rights but we still have a lot
more to claim. For example, in the Australian state of Victoria ,
aside from the usual prohibition against discrimination based on sex, marital
status, pregnancy, disability and religion, workers are protected in all stages
of employment against discrimination with regards to physical features, gender
identity, sexual orientation, and even personal association with people who
have or assumed to have such personal characteristics. A progressive workplace
in the Philippines should be similar.”
