On 22 January 2020, the Philippine National Police and Philippine Economic Zone Authority launched the creation of the Joint Industrial Peace and Concern Office (JIPCO)—a government-private sector mechanism that intends to address security issues and promote industrial peace in the economic zones in Region III.
The Commission on Human Rights has received information from concerned labour groups expressing alarm regarding the operationalisation of JIPCO, noting that it may lead to intensified union busting in export processing zones. JIPCO was launched in line with the government’s implementation of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict through Executive Order 70. While the Commission recognises the need to maintain security and uninterrupted economic activity in the area, the CHR reminds the government that such mechanism should never be used to launch any attack or harassment against militant and progressive labour organisations.
It is the basic right of every Filipino worker to join and form labour and trade unions in their workplace as it allows them to have increased bargaining power to demand better living wage, benefits, and working conditions; to air out their grievances; and to improve safety standards in their trade. A ‘no union, no strike’ policy in these economic zones discourages workers to exercise their right to speak out against any form of exploitation, and will only embolden the employers to disenfranchise the workers from any legal protection ad security of work.
With the State Policy “to promote free trade unionism as an instrument for the enhancement of democracy and the promotion of social justice and development”, the Commission reminds the government that in the pursuit of peace, it shall not come at the expense of the rights and wellbeing of workers.
The CHR will conduct an initial investigation of the matter and will closely monitor JIPCO’s implementation. Similarly, the Commission is willing to facilitate dialogues between the government, particularly the Department of Labor and Employment, and workers’ groups to come up with better policies that will ensure peace in economic trade zones, while genuinely safeguarding the fundamental rights of workers as enshrined in the Constitution and international human rights conventions. ###