In line with the celebration of Labor Day in the country, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has approved the creation of an inter-agency committee tasked to look into the reported incidents of violence, killing, and harassment against trade unions and workers’ organizations.
Based on Executive Order No. 23 dated April 30, the Inter-agency Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Association and Right to Organize of Workers will be chaired by Executive Secretary (ES) Lucas Bersamin while Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma will serve as the vice chairman.
The following government agencies will be the panel’s members:
- Department of Justice
- Department of the Interior and Local Government
- Department of National Defense
- Department of Trade and Industry
- National Security Council
- Philippine National Police
According to the issuance, the committee may request the attendance or participation of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) when necessary.
Apart from reviewing labor reports, the committee is also tasked to submit its findings and recommendations to the President and develop a roadmap containing the priority areas of action, tangible deliverables, clear responsibilities, and appropriate timeframes, consistent with the recommendations of the high-level tripartite mission (HLTM).
“The roadmap shall be subject to regular review and should consider the consolidated reports and recommendations from the concerned agencies and inputs from other relevant stakeholders,” the EO stated.
“Each of the concerned agencies shall designate a focal unit or office within the agency, to be headed by an official with a rank not lower than that of an Undersecretary, which shall monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation and progress of agency action plans, initiatives relating to freedom of association and rights to organize and to collective bargaining,” it added.
