KMU denounces more labor flex measures

Kilusang Mayo Uno denounced the recent recommendations and lobbying of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) for more “flexible labor rules” to cope with the financial crisis, as it will bring greater oppression to workers.

The ECCP proposed measures such as changes in work hour schedules, hiring of more contractual workers, further outsourcing, and encourage of more foreign investors.

“The government enforces a cheap, docile and flexible labor policy for the benefit of capitalists and to the detriment of workers. And the remaining handful of laws that aim to protect and uphold labor rights are already being violated with impunity,” said Elmer Labog, KMU Chairperson.

Labog sees the ECCP recommendations as even enlarging  the scope of contracting and subcontracting by explicitly providing that the employer may contract or subcontract any production activity ‘for long term work’ purportedly to save the business from global economic downturn.

“In the ECCP recommendations for more flexible labor policy, welfare measures along with core labor standards that were won through arduous struggles of trade union movement will be treacherously negated and wasted ,” said Labog.

Labog added that employers and capitalists already use the existing Labor Code as a footrug, by altering it further they can use it as a vicious legal weapon against workers. He believes that the ECCP proposals  would guarantee to worsen the already terrible conditions faced by Filipino workers.

ECCP now profess to seek ‘regular exchange of views with all stakeholders’ and has admitted having held talks with senior DOLE officials and members of the Congress labor committees. KMU urges legislators and DOLE officials to oppose ECCP proposals that would attack workers’ rights and intensify their economic impoverishment.