Philippine-Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR) 
SIKLAB-Canada (Advance the Rights of Filipino Migrant Workers) 
National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC) 
Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance-National (UKPC/FCYA-National)
Press Statement

Filipino and Canadians call on the Philippine government to protect its own workers, not foreign interests! 

February 3, 2009

 
As concerned progressive overseas Filipinos and Canadians, we stand in solidarity with Hanjin Shipyard workers in their struggle against their deplorable working conditions which has led to at least 24 deaths. We hope that the upcoming Philippine Senate hearing, scheduled to begin February 4th to investigate the fatal accidents and deaths of workers at Hanjin Shipbuilding site in Subic Bay, will hold Hanjin accountable and lead to improvements to workers’ conditions and mandatory health and safety regulations. 

Hanjin is the fourth largest ship-building company in the world and is Korean-owned. They employ over 15,000 workers in the Philippines. Hanjin Shipyard workers, organized by MAKABAYAN, (Manggagawa para sa Kalayaan ng Bayan or Workers for People’s Liberation) have very recently filed for union registration, in hopes for better conditions for these workers.  

A group of Canadian trade unionists and human rights activists from Vancouver that recently visited the Philippines were able to meet some Hanjin workers and learned that many workers, particularly when under “training,” make less then the Philippine-legislated minimum wage. They are often brought in from outlying provinces and end up living in nearby make-shift barracks that are in very poor condition, (plywood shacks that are the size of a common bedroom with bunk beds and a burner), housing fourteen young men at a rental cost of Php600/month each. They also suffer from many forms of harassment (including physical harassment) from Korean supervisors. 

Unfortunately, organizers expect strong negative reactions to the unionization effort from both the Philippine and Korean governments, as well as Hanjin’s own management. It has been reported that the Korean envoy to the Philippines has warned that if the Philippine Senate continues to investigate into the deaths of Hanjin workers (now estimated at 24 with ten people seriously injured), it will have grave political repercussions. 

As overseas Filipinos and progressive Canadians, we strongly condemn the Philippine government for its inaction in holding Hanjin responsible for the poor working conditions, accidents and deaths of its workers.  Instead, the Department of Labor and Employment has absolved Hanjin and shifted the blame to Hanjin’s subcontractors, instead of holding both accountable for the situation of these workers. 

This tactic of transferring the responsibility of workers’ health and safety to subcontractors is not a surprise as the Philippine government seems to be only concerned in satisfying foreign investors at the expense of workers’ rights. 

The persistence of workers receiving below poverty-level wages in the Philippines directly relates to the marked increase of forced migration of Filipinos abroad. With little hope for survival in the Philippines under a government that is highly anti-worker and anti-union, over 3,500 Filipinos go abroad in desperate hope for an alternative. Little do they know that many leaving dire poverty soon face a different cycle of poverty as a source of cheap labour, facing racism and other forms of discrimination in receiving countries like Canada. 

Workers all over the world have the right to make a living in a safe and healthy environment.  Therefore, we call on the Philippine Government to stand up for its own people; to protect the workers and the families that depend on their wages.  We demand that the Philippine Government uphold the rights of its citizens and not be “bullied” by foreign companies whose interests are profits. 

We also call on all Canadians to support the workers' struggle as part of the global struggle for justice. 

Statement of: 

Philippine-Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR) 
SIKLAB-Canada (Advance the Rights of Filipino Migrant Workers) 
National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada (NAPWC) 
Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance-National (UKPC/FCYA-National)

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