TUCP bares wish list for voters

CEBU, Philippines - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines has come up with a policy wish list it wants voters to consider in casting their ballots on May 10.

TUCP Party-list Representative Raymond Mendoza said criminalizing labor-only contracting is one the major concerns that TUCP wants to be put into law.

Mendoza said there is a need to address the prevalence of labor-only contracting to ensure that the rights of workers are protected. He said labor-only contracting has been used to circumvent the rights of the workers provided for by the Labor Code of the Philippines.

Another issue TUCP wants to address, Mendoza said, is the security of tenure of workers. Mendoza said TUCP wants to push for a maximum ratio of a 90/10 percentage among regular to non-regular workers in an establishments.

Mendoza said workers should also be protected in cases of merger or consolidation and sale or transfer of all or substantially all assets of the employer’s business.

The wish list also includes protection of workers during bankruptcy for which TUCP wants to institute the workers’ right for claims as first lien on the assets of the bankrupt employer. 

Mendoza said TUCP would also push for the workers’ right to organization without distinction, qualification or prior authorization, as well as the right to strike, which aims to eradicate dismissal and imprisonment as penalty to violating orders, prohibitions and injunctions. 

Protection of workers’ health, which will be covered by policy reforms for safety in the workplace, is also of paramount consideration, Mendoza said. TUCP wants to ban the use of asbestos and/or asbestos-containing products.

Moreover, TUCP wants to push for workers’ representation at the Energy Regulatory Commission and National Water Resources Board to have someone lobby for access to safe and affordable water, energy, and petroleum to be more affordable to consumers.

Workers’ representation in the two agencies would also reportedly ensure that the interest of workers and consumers in general would be prioritized.

Furthermore, Mendoza said TUCP would fight for a ceiling rate in credit card charges to protect credit card holders against exorbitant charges by credit card companies.

The TUCP Representa-tive also said they would want to eliminate the worst forms of child labor and promote occupational safety and health.  (FREEMAN NEWS)