Labor group lauds Magna Carta for informal sector

CEBU, Philippines - The country’s biggest labor union welcomed and lauded the recent move of a senator on the holding of a hearing on the Magna Carta for Workers in the informal sector.

Art Barrit, spokesperson of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said that the informal sector comprises majority of the economy and the Magna Carta that seeks to provide social security benefits, among others, is actually long overdue.

“But,  still this is a laudable move that a senator is doing something for the said sector,” said Barrit, who was just recently appointed as board member of technical Education and Skills Development Authority representing the labor sector.

Senator Nancy Binay held the hearing recently on the Magna Carta that seeks to extend Social Security and PhilHealth coverage, security from forced evictions and other benefits for some 18 million workers in the informal economy.

In a statement sent to The FREEMAN, Binay said that the Magna Carta seeks to provide a framework for workers in informal economy including but not limited to policies to bring marginalized workers and economic units into economic and social mainstream, applicable labor standards and provisions for poorest and most vulnerable workers, structural programs, and social protection through social insurance coverage, basic healthcare and social welfare programs.

The 2013 Labor Force Survey of the National Statistics Office showed that 18.08 million Filipinos work in the informal economy, which is almost 43 percent of the country’s labor force of  37.8 million.

The informal economy workers cover small farmers owning land not more than three hectares, rural and agricultural workers, small fisherfolk or operators owning boats of three gross tons or less, home-based workers who are independent producers of goods or services, ambulant vendors or peddlers, street vendors, drivers and workers of land and sea transportation, operators of jeepneys, tricycles, pedicabs and taxis, small scale miners, construction workers and waste pickers and recyclers.

It also includes beauticians, barbers, and masseuses as well as on-call workers in the entertainment, movie and media such as bit players, stuntmen and women, crew, make-up artists, among others.  (FREEMAN)