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Group alleges anti-union stand of POEA

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/05/2008 3:15 AM

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 A labor union on Tuesday said it is set to launch a global action if the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) fails to correct its anti-union stand contained in the sample employment contracts it is promoting to potential overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"This is a very serious offense against ILO Convention 87. If government does not rectify the situation, the affiliated unions of the UNI-PLC will file a case against the Philippine government with the International Labour Organization (ILO)", Jose Umali Jr., General Secretary of the Union Network International-Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC).

The alleged anti-union stand of POEA was discovered by UNI- PLC and its fraternal unions abroad when they tried to get information on OFWs through the POEA’s web page in connection with the recently-concluded 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).

They found a document entitled "Sample Employment Contract for Various Skills" posted at the POEA Web site (http://www.poea.gov.ph/ofw/contract.pdf) which contains a provision that discourages OFWs from engaging in trade union activities.

He cited article 14 of the said sample contract which indicates that one supposedly valid ground for "termination" of OFW services by foreign principals or employers is "engaging in trade union activities".

"This is anomalous. In the just-concluded GFMD, our officials are all proclaiming how much the government is seriously looking after the welfare of our workers. And yet, at the same time, our own POEA, through their sample job contracts, is advertising to foreign employers that the OFWs can be terminated anytime for trade union activities. Meaning OFWs can be terminated anytime for asserting their universally-recognized labor rights," Umali said in a statement.

He reminded POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili that the provision in the sample job contracts is against the Philippine Constitution and international labor standards such as the ILO's (International Labor Organization) Freedom of Association Convention.

He said the anti-union provisions contained in the sample job contracts would serve as an invitation to foreign employers to abuse or exploit OFWs.

The UNI Global Union, a global union confederation with over 15 million members across the globe, is prepared to launch a global campaign in support of the UNI-PLC position and the right of Filipino migrant workers to engage in trade union activities.