Joining protests in time for the International Human Rights Day, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno condemned the Aquino government for violating key workers' rights throughout the year and for preparing an all-out violation of human rights as shown by its overkill use of force against participants in the Mendiola Campout protest.
KMU said Pres. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's government violated the following workers' rights, all enshrined in the 1987 Constitution, within the year:
> Right to a living wage. Despite workers' calls for a significant wage hike to bring the minimum wage closer to a living wage, the government approved a mere P22 Cost of Living Allowance last May. It has also allowed the prices of basic goods and services to go up unabated, thereby decreasing the real value of workers' wages.
> Right to just share in the fruits of production. The government, through the Bureau of Internal Revenue, taxed workers' contributions to SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-ibig that exceed the legally mandated level last November. It thereby taxed workers' basic pay and reduced the social security that workers will receive upon retirement and in times of need.
> Right to security of tenure. The government affirmed contractual employment, in which workers can be terminated at any time, with its approval of outsourcing in Philippine Airlines this September. It then tried to spread the lie that it is ending contractual employment by releasing DOLE Order No. 18-A Series of 2011 this November which merely lays down regulations for so-called "legitimate" contractors and subcontractors.
> Right to strike. Pres. Aquino himself assumed jurisdiction over the labor dispute in PAL, quelling the then-impending strike there last December until the first quarter of the year. Workers who hold strikes in violation of the AJ can be retrenched from work, charged with criminal cases, and attacked by the police or the military.
"The Aquino government violated every key trade-union right within this year. Workers have every right to brand Aquino as 'anti-worker' and 'pro-capitalist'," said Roger Soluta, KMU secretary-general.
"Workers are in a worse situation now than last year. We have sunk deeper into hunger and poverty under the Aquino government," he added.
KMU also slammed the Aquino government for using excessive force against students, workers and urban poor who joined the Mendiola Campout protest since Dec. 6.
"After violating every key workers' right this year, the Aquino government, for a year-ender, used excessive force against those who are calling for an immediate relief from the intensifying hunger and poverty in the country," Soluta said.
"Today, we condemn the Aquino government not only for violating workers' economic rights this year but also for repressing those who are fighting such violations and fighting hunger and poverty," he said.
from: kilusangmayouno.org
