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Date of publication: February 13, 2012

Source: Business World Online

Author: E. J. Diaz

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THE GOVERNMENT has committed to report on efforts to uphold worker and human rights in a bid to maintain export privileges granted to the Philippines by the United States.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz, who led a delegation last month to Washington, DC, said the submissions would be added to accounts that have to be filed in the wake of a review by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

Ms. Baldoz’s appearance at last month’s USTR hearing involved complaints raised by US-based International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF), which is questioning the Philippines’ status as a Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) beneficiary.

"The Department of Justice committed to submit significant progress reports on some cases of extrajudicial killings within a certain period," Ms. Baldoz told BusinessWorld yesterday.

"We will also be submitting modules [adopted from] the ILO (International Labor Organization) on labor rights to be incorporated in the modules for AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) training as well as guidelines in the conduct of monitoring strikes and labor pickets," she added.

"We are also giving them a progress report on our legislative agenda pertaining to amendments of the Labor Code."

The amendments are intended to strengthen the right to organize and ease the requirements to be recognized as a labor federation and to receive foreign assistance, she said.

"My sense is that we had a positive testimony," Ms. Baldoz said.

"[Our] government commitment is clear especially at the time of [President Benigno S. C.] Aquino [III]. We’re producing progress, and they’re substantial since I first engaged them in 2010," she added.

A transcript of the January hearing shows the Philippine delegation promising to submit a report on cases of extrajudicial killings within 15 working days. Justice department officials were not immediately available for comment as to whether the report had already been forwarded.

The case raised by the ILRF concerned "the lack of progress in addressing the cases of violence against unions and the role of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the anti-union activities and their presence in workplaces," the transcript quotes Deputy Assistant Trade Representative Timothy Wedding as saying.

"[I]t appears that progress has been slow in addressing the cases and issuing guidelines for the military in particular," Mr. Wedding charged.

Ms. Baldoz explained that it took longer than expected as the Labor department had to open dialogues to promote a "better understanding of the labor rights as a component of the broader civil liberties."

The GSP is a trade assistance program that requires beneficiary countries to take steps toward upgrading and implementing labor standards to qualify for duty free rates. Failing to do so means the loss of preferential treatment as in the case of Belarus, which was suspended in 2000.

The trade program, renewed last November, will remain effective until July 31, 2013.

The Philippines was the seventh top GSP beneficiary in 2010, government data show.