The Philippine Online Chronicles

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In celebration of its 75th year, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is holding a series of activities celebrating the dignity of the Filipino labor force. Two such activities are holding the Diamond Lecture Series, and Decent Work Caravan was held at the Central Philippine University (CPU) in Jaro, Iloilo City on July 16-17, 2009.


"Decent work" defined and illustrated

As a preliminary activity to the lecture series, DOLE held The Decent Work Caravan: Marangal na Trabaho...Sa Bawat Pilipino! Participatory Workshop and Media Forum on Wednesday, July 16.

The discussions focused on the promotion of "decent work"-- rights at work, employment and social protection and representation of formal, informal and migrant sector workers. The panel discussions focused on four objectives: rights at work, promotion of employment, social protection, and social dialogue.

Asked about their expectations regarding the lecture series, a participant said, "I am attending this three-day seminar on decent work because for me, the seminars will be able to help us understand what decent work is all about. In our company, it is already being practiced." However, he said that other sectors, especially the informal sector, would probably have a hard time reaching the standards of the decent work standards discussed in the seminar.

Another participant said that she learned a lot from the Day 2 seminar and that she will share the things that she has learned from the caravan, although she said that it would have been better if more time was devoted to the media forum. When asked about the current status of jobs in Iloilo, she said that more jobs are needed, and she believes that the Decent Work Caravan could open some doors.

"It's about workers' rights, protection, dialogue, representation and everything that we want to happen. We want this popularized because we think it is already the right time," said Cynthia R. Cruz of DOLE's Institute of Labor Studies (ILS) .

The Iloilo City workshop was only the first leg of the nationwide caravan. There will be 15 more hitting regions in the following months.


Relevance and significance of Unionism in a democratic society

Top DOLE officials cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony of DOLE's Diamond Lecture Series: Balik-Tanaw, Bagong Pananaw, with Undersecretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz, Iloilo City mayor Jerry Treñtas, and CPU president Dr. Teodoro Robles as the guests of honor.

According to Undersecretary Baldoz, this is the first time that the DOLE focused on universities as their audience. She highlighted DOLE's aim to educate students regarding workers' rights as early as possible. Through career seminars and lectures, they hope to impart to students what they can expect in the future as members of the workforce, as well as the rights that they will possess.

The lecture series highlighted the meaning of the trade union movement-its present and future promises for workers and students in the discussion entitled "Trade Unionism: Uso Ka Pa Ba?"

According to DOLE assistant secretary Reydeluz Conferido, the lecture aims to bring to light the meaning of social justice (katarungang panlipunan). He stressed the importance of discussion on the relevance of unions to the youth and workers in a democratic society.

In the lecture series, Julius Cainglet of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) used a pop culture approach, referring to Optimus Prime of Transformers fame as an example of what workers are supposed to be. He touched on the importance of unions to workers and jobseekers. He discussed the misconception that most workers are afraid to form unions for fear that they might lose their jobs. Unions, he said are supposed to make the workers' lives better. He outlined the most important things that workers should follow: they should revitalize trade unions, and like Optimus Prime, they should begin by transforming.

Joshua Mata, secretary general of the Association of Progressive Labor (APL), talked about the present trend in call center jobs. While he has nothing against call centers, he feels that the four years that students spend in college would be put to waste if they devote themselves to something that has no connection with what they have studied. "Hindi lahat ng estudyante ay pwede natin ipagsaksakan sa call center," he said.

He also said that unions are needed to change society, citing that the present privileges that students enjoy right now, from their right to vote to their right to study, are products of union movements. Things such as overtime pay, SSS, eight hours of work, and Pagibig all happened because people formed unions and fought for what they thought was fair. He added that when capitalism started to dominate the world more than 200 years ago, the workers' time for work was not eight hours, the number of hours that most workers enjoy today. He said that these rights, if not guarded and fought for, will once again be taken away from workers.

"Naguunyon tayo hindi lang para protektahan ang kinabukasan ninyo. Hindi lang para bigyan kayo ng magandang trabaho, kundi para baguhin ang lipunang ito." He said that if the present society continues to be run by the elite few, the careers that will be granted to future workers will just be taken advantage of by capitalists.

"I myself am thinking of my future. I myself want this country to be reformed," said a student leader who participated in the discussion. She agreed with the other speakers saying that trade unions are still important.


Diamond Lecture Series legs 3 to 7

The succeeding legs of the Diamond Lecture Series will be held in other regions of the country. "The Labor Code of Yesterday and the New World of Work" will be discussed in Naga City (University of Sta. Isabel), "The 1987 Constitution and Workers" in Baguio City (University of Baguio ), "The Global Filipino Worker" in Cagayan de Oro City (Mindanao Polytechnic State College ), and "Decent Work for All, Global Agenda for Workers" in Cebu City (University of San Carlos ).


Photos by Ofelia T. Sta. Maria. Licensed under Creative Commons.