Employer award for ABS-CBN, insult to workers – KMU

“Granting an employer award to ABS-CBN, a company that has contractualized its workforce and illegally terminated workers in order to bust the workers’ union, is simply insulting to the Filipino workers and people.”

This was the reaction of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno to the awarding of Asia’s Best Employer Award for 2011 to ABS-CBN last July 22, saying the television network does not deserve the award, citing its record of contractualization and illegal termination of 92 contractual workers in June last year.

According to a news item, ABS-CBN was awarded in recognition the TV network’s organizational framework which supposedly covers being exemplary in development initiatives, distinctiveness in employee hiring, training and retention practices and continuing innovation.

“Up to now, the majority of ABS-CBN workers are contractuals, under the so-called Internal Job Market, an entity that is not even registered at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Up to now, a picket of ABS-CBN IJM workers stands in front of the ABS-CBN building, a protest against the TV network’s violation of workers’ basic right to form a union,” said Lito Ustarez, KMU vice-chairperson.

“Despite being one of the two leading television networks in the country, ABS-CBN subjects its workers to such forms of exploitation and repression. Instead of an employer award, ABS-CBN should be receiving rebuke from bodies who evaluate employers’ performance,” he added.

Ninety-two workers were laid off by ABS-CBN for supporting and participating in the formation of the ABS-CBN Internal Job Market Workers’ Union in June last year. The TV network has refused to implement Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz’s two decisions recognizing ABS-CBN IJM workers as regulars and ordering the holding of a union elections.

“Not only is ABS-CBN violating workers rights, it is also violating a DOLE ruling on a labor dispute. This, apparently, is what the award-givers want to hold up as an example to employers in the country,” said Ustarez.

“Such an award will only further embolden ABS-CBN to violate its workers’ rights, continue to implement contractualization, and attack workers’ attempts to form unions. The award and the award-givers have just discredited themselves before the eyes of the Filipino workers and advocates of workers’ rights,” he added.

The Asia’s Best Employer Awards 2011 was hosted by the Employer Branding Institute, World HRD Congress, Stars of the Industry Group and CMO Asia.