LABOR groups are preparing a unified report on the alleged trade union rights violations against workers in the country to be submitted to an International Labor Organization High Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM) visiting the country later this month.
In a statement, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said widespread consultations are already underway across the country among different labor unions regarding incidents of worker rights violations.
“We have validated the various trade union rights violations against workers, such as extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests and detentions, red-tagging, and other forms of union harassment and interference,” said KMU Secretary General Jerome Adonis.
“These cases violate not only the constitutional rights of workers but also the ILO Convention No. 87 on the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize,” he added.
KMU noted that the most prominent case is the “Bloody Sunday Massacre” that occurred in March 2021, where several unarmed unionists and activists were killed and arrested in a counter-insurgency operation by the government.
“We continue to demand justice for the victims of these military operations from the government,” Adonis said.
He also expressed hopes the labor sector will not be prevented from presenting its unified report to the ILO contingent.
“We welcome the ILO-HLTM and look forward to the opportunity to express our grievances and demands on this occasion,” said Adonis.
