Submitted by KMU on Wed, 2006/11/22 - 2:09pm.
The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) today said they are looking forward to the developments of the complaint they filed to the International Labor Organization (ILO) charging the Arroyo government of stifling workers rights to self-organization as well as direct involvement in the killings of labor advocates since 2001.
This is the second complaint filed by the labor center to the ILO. The first was in 1983 against the Marcos dictatorship which the ILO criticized for gross violation of trade union and human rights.
"Early this week, we received an acknowledgement letter from the ILO International Office signed by Karen Curtis, ILO Deputy Director of the International Labour Standards Department, Responsible for Freedom of Association. The letter with reference code TUR 1-84-24 dated November 8, recognized the receipt of our complaint against the Arroyo government's flagrant violations of trade union rights (ILO Case No. 2528)," said KMU Chairman Elmer Labog.
"We might see DoLE Secretary Arturo Brion sooner that he expects. We will encourage the ILO Governing Body on Freedom of Association to start examining the substance of our complaint as soon as possible and make swift actions on the cases stipulated in our grievances. We were assured by Ms. Curtis that even if they do not receive any observation from the Arroyo government, the ILO Committee will proceed to examine the substance of the case we filed."
"The macabre incident of political killings of labor leaders and trade union organizers warrant a speedy response from the ILO International Office and demands a strong opposition from the ILO against such gross violations of labor and human rights. We will follow up our complaint regularly through the ILO Manila Office," the labor leader said.
Labog noted that yesterday, another labor-related killings took place. The killing of Alaska Union President Andrew Inoza in San Pedro Laguna, bring the number of killed in the labor sector this year alone to 30. "The modus of killings are similar. We have all reasons to suspect the military. Basic social sectors like farmers and workers are primary targets for political killings."
"With regards to the Philippines being a role model of many respects, Brion is right. The Philippines have become a prime example of a country wherein civilians are being killed because of political beliefs. Next to Colombia, the Philippines is now the second most dangerous place for trade unionists and media workers," the labor leader said.
This is the second complaint filed by the labor center to the ILO. The first was in 1983 against the Marcos dictatorship which the ILO criticized for gross violation of trade union and human rights.
"Early this week, we received an acknowledgement letter from the ILO International Office signed by Karen Curtis, ILO Deputy Director of the International Labour Standards Department, Responsible for Freedom of Association. The letter with reference code TUR 1-84-24 dated November 8, recognized the receipt of our complaint against the Arroyo government's flagrant violations of trade union rights (ILO Case No. 2528)," said KMU Chairman Elmer Labog.
"We might see DoLE Secretary Arturo Brion sooner that he expects. We will encourage the ILO Governing Body on Freedom of Association to start examining the substance of our complaint as soon as possible and make swift actions on the cases stipulated in our grievances. We were assured by Ms. Curtis that even if they do not receive any observation from the Arroyo government, the ILO Committee will proceed to examine the substance of the case we filed."
"The macabre incident of political killings of labor leaders and trade union organizers warrant a speedy response from the ILO International Office and demands a strong opposition from the ILO against such gross violations of labor and human rights. We will follow up our complaint regularly through the ILO Manila Office," the labor leader said.
Labog noted that yesterday, another labor-related killings took place. The killing of Alaska Union President Andrew Inoza in San Pedro Laguna, bring the number of killed in the labor sector this year alone to 30. "The modus of killings are similar. We have all reasons to suspect the military. Basic social sectors like farmers and workers are primary targets for political killings."
"With regards to the Philippines being a role model of many respects, Brion is right. The Philippines have become a prime example of a country wherein civilians are being killed because of political beliefs. Next to Colombia, the Philippines is now the second most dangerous place for trade unionists and media workers," the labor leader said.
