ILOILO City – Widespread labor rights violations — including red-tagging, union suppression, and harassment of workers organizing protests — continue to plague Iloilo City and the wider Panay region, a new report by Workers’ Rights Watch and allied labor groups has revealed, raising alarm over threats to both labor democracy and human rights.
The report, presented during a March 26 media conference, identified violations of the right to association and peaceful assembly as among the most pressing concerns, alongside increasing cases of intimidation against unionists and labor advocates.
While regional statistics are still being finalized, labor groups stressed that the pattern of abuse is already evident, particularly in sectors with weak protections such as informal and contractual work arrangements.
Freedom of association — guaranteed under the 1987 Constitution, the Labor Code, and international conventions — allows workers to form unions, bargain collectively, and engage in peaceful actions without interference. However, labor advocates said this fundamental right is routinely undermined.
“Many corporations maintain unwritten rules to deter trade union organizing by employing tactics that undermine union activities. This includes actively busting unions and engaging in unfair labor practices. The government’s failure to implement existing laws and uphold international commitments has left workers vulnerable and without the necessary protections to exercise their right to organize effectively,” said Atty. Jose Sonny Matula, national president of the Federation of Free Workers.
Elmer Forro, lead convenor of the No To PUV Phaseout Coalition Panay, said violations go beyond red-tagging and extend to job security and economic rights.
“In addition to red-tagging, we are witnessing increasingly severe violations relating to security of tenure, economic rights, and the fundamental right to unionize. A significant portion of the workforce is employed under contractual agreements, which leaves them at risk,” Forro said.
“When these workers attempt to form unions, they often face intense retaliatory actions, including economic violations concerning overtime payments. Moreover, the issuance of showcause orders against workers especially to transport sectors during transport strike participating in peaceful protests further undermines their rights to assembly and collective action,” he added.
Labor groups also raised concern over alleged harassment and violence against unionists.
“Unionists and labor activists are subjected to harassment, often without any regard for due process. Anyone daring to speak out against injustices faces real danger. While the International Criminal Court (ICC) has begun an investigation into the accusations against President Duterte for crimes against humanity, justice remains elusive at the local level. Disturbingly, none of the 105 reported cases nationwide of extrajudicial killings of workers, which have occurred since 2016, have progressed to court proceedings,” said Kamille Pauline Deligente, executive director of the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights.
The report also flagged gaps in labor education, citing the lack of implementing rules for the Labor Education Act.
“Although this act has been in place for five years, the absence of implementing rules and regulations means that vital information about workers’ rights, including their right to organize and express their opinions, is not being taught to students. This lack of education is detrimental, as it fails to prepare future generations of workers to understand or advocate for their rights,” said Julius Cainglet, vice president for research, advocacy, and partnerships at the Federation of Free Workers.
Workers’ Rights Watch said it will continue monitoring violations through coordinated efforts with unions and advocacy groups, deploying trained teams across workplaces and communities to document abuses, conduct fact-finding missions, and submit reports to the International Labour Organization.
Labor groups called for stronger enforcement of existing laws and urgent protective measures for workers, warning that continued inaction could further erode fundamental rights in the workplace./PN
