ILO calls for probe into killings, training for police, military

A HIGH-level mission from the International Labor Organization (ILO) yesterday asked the Philippine government to investigate allegations of murder and abductions of trade union leaders, as well as harassment of labor organizers.

The ILO also urged the government to train and orient police officers and soldiers on the rights of workers to organize and to respect civil liberties.

In a press briefing at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Pasay City, Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, director of the ILO’s International Labor Standards Department, said the government must conduct independent investigations on the reported deaths and harassment of labor leaders.

"These are very serious allegations and these can have a long-term impact on the trade union workers’ exercise of the right to organize. It is up to the government how the investigations can be done in a fair way," she said.

Left-wing workers’ groups claim nearly 90 trade and union leaders have been either abducted or killed since 2001 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power. Official government records show about 35 cases.

Ms. Doumbia-Henry said the government must also implement a comprehensive technical cooperation program that would include training for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police on civil liberties.

"There is an acknowledgment on their part (military and police) that they need this training and that they would like to help the ILO," she said.

Training should also be provided to judges and lawyers, whle there should be "continuing education" for the Department of Labor and Employment and the Civil Service Commission on international labor standards to improve understanding.

"A statement at the highest level that of the Government instructing all government actors to make special efforts to ensure that their actions do not infringe upon the basic civil liberties of trade unionists could go a long way in reassuring the workers that have brought their complaints to the ILO," she said.

The team conducted a mission from Sept. 22 to 29 to identify areas in which the ILO could provide support and technical assistance to the government for the effective application of the ILO Convention 87, or the Freedom of Association and the Protection of the Right to Organize.

Ms. Doumbia-Henry’s team visited factories in special economic zones and met government and workers’ groups, including those from the central and southern Philippines.

She said her team was confronted with conflicting statements "concerning violence against trade unionists and the sufficiency of the efforts made by the government to ensure that workers may exercise their trade union rights in a climate free from fear."

The ILO team’s visit was an offshoot of the recommendation in 2007 of the International Labor Conference Committee on the Application of Standards, which listed the Philippines among 25 cases of labor violations based on complaints filed by trade unions.

Other members of the team include Karen Curtis, deputy director of the ILO International Labor Standards Department, and Tim de Meyer, international labor standards specialist of the ILO subregional office for east Asia.

Ms. Doumbia-Henry said her team would make a report to the ILO supervisory bodies, which will make an assessment and come up with findings by March 2010.

Labor Undersecretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz said the recommendations by the ILO were "welcome."

"We will work closely with the ILO office in Manila to make the work of the mission very effective in terms of purpose. The training needs have been identified and we accept these recommendations very much," she said.

Labor Assistant Secretary Reydeluz D. Conferido said a body would be created to monitor responses to the training program.

Sought for comment, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Media Liason Officer Wendell M. Gumban said the recommendations by the ILO showed that the government is not exerting enough effort to protect workers’ right to organize.

The KMU is among labor groups that had raised complaints to the ILO.

"Implicitly, there is recognition by the ILO that the government is responsible for the oppression of workers," Mr. Gumban said.

Recommendations made were not enough, he said.