After a series
of national and regional consultations, the guidelines on the conduct of
concerned government agencies in relation to the exercise of workers’ rights
and activities was officially signed on May 7, 2012 at The Bayleaf, Intramuros,
Manila.
The guidelines, officially known as the “Guidelines on the Conduct of the DOLE, DILG, DND, DOJ, AFP and PNP Relative to the Exercise of Workers’ Rights and Activities”, prescribes the official conduct of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the CAFGU Active Auxiliaries and Special CAFGU Active Auxiliaries, Philippine National Police and the Baranggay Tanod relative to the exercise of workers’ right to self-organization and collective bargaining.
It seeks to address obstacles to the effective exercise of trade union rights and violence against trade unionists, including allegation of militarization of workplaces and impunity in the Philippines which, according to International Labor Organization, take place in the Philippines.
In 2009, the ILO noted that the Philippines had issues and gaps, in law and in practice, in the application of International Labor Standards: Those relating to violence, intimidation, threat and harassment of trade unionists and an absence of conviction in relation to those crimes; and Obstacles to the effective exercise of trade union rights. Included in these issues are the allegations of harassment, intimidation, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and militarization of the workplaces by the military and police forces.
The Guidelines, which is an offshoot of the Manifesto of Commitment signed by DOLE, Armed Forces of the Philippines and labor groups, seeks to address the issues with the end view of “promoting and protecting human rights and workers’ rights at all times in pursuit of lasting peace based on social justice.”
The guidelines, officially known as the “Guidelines on the Conduct of the DOLE, DILG, DND, DOJ, AFP and PNP Relative to the Exercise of Workers’ Rights and Activities”, prescribes the official conduct of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the CAFGU Active Auxiliaries and Special CAFGU Active Auxiliaries, Philippine National Police and the Baranggay Tanod relative to the exercise of workers’ right to self-organization and collective bargaining.
It seeks to address obstacles to the effective exercise of trade union rights and violence against trade unionists, including allegation of militarization of workplaces and impunity in the Philippines which, according to International Labor Organization, take place in the Philippines.
In 2009, the ILO noted that the Philippines had issues and gaps, in law and in practice, in the application of International Labor Standards: Those relating to violence, intimidation, threat and harassment of trade unionists and an absence of conviction in relation to those crimes; and Obstacles to the effective exercise of trade union rights. Included in these issues are the allegations of harassment, intimidation, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and militarization of the workplaces by the military and police forces.
The Guidelines, which is an offshoot of the Manifesto of Commitment signed by DOLE, Armed Forces of the Philippines and labor groups, seeks to address the issues with the end view of “promoting and protecting human rights and workers’ rights at all times in pursuit of lasting peace based on social justice.”
