Workers now demand family planning in CBA

Aside from a pay increase, a family planning program is now among the major demands of workers in negotiations for collective bargaining agreements (CBA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

Data from the DOLE’s Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) showed that health care benefits and reproductive health programs are the second leading provisions stipulated in most CBAs registered with the department.

The BLES study also revealed that the most common health care benefits provided to workers were medical services, hospitalization assistance and dental services while some CBAs also provide medicine and optical allowance.

To further promote the well being and health care of workers, more than half or about 63 percent of the companies covered by CBAs provide family planning programs.

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s largest labor group, said that a family planning program has become a mandatory provision in most CBAs.

TUCP deputy spokesman Raffy Mapalo said their group is exerting all efforts to ensure that these CBA provisions are implemented for the benefit of both workers and employers.

According to the BLES report, welfare benefits are the foremost consideration in any CBA negotiations and these include provisions on wage increase, social security, health care, leave and other fringe benefits.

BLES noted that wage increases are stipulated in all the 232 registered CBAs, with the daily salary adjustments ranging from 50 centavos to P100.

More than 30,000 workers enjoyed the salary increases, which were given either across-the-board or as percent increase in the basic pay of workers.

Other financial benefits provided in CBAs are the signing bonus, longevity pay, Christmas bonus, merit increase, perfect attendance, cost of living allowance, incentive pay and performance bonus.