InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- A non-government organization (NGO) said the International Labor Organization's (ILO) recent report on the high incidence of vulnerable employment conditions indicate that the Aquino administration has yet to learn from the January 27, 2011 Eton tragedy.
In a statement, the Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) said the gondola plunge that killed 10 workers at the luxury condo Eton Residences in Makati City was "a wake up call for the government to end subcontracting chains and unsafe working conditions."
“But the Aquino government did nothing to address the social costs of subcontracting and other forms of vulnerable work. Proof of this is the series of occupational accidents last year, and recently, the report on the rising number of vulnerable jobs in the country,” said Anna Leah Escresa, EILER executive director.
In a recent report, the ILO said four out of 10 Filipino workers were in vulnerable employment.
Escresa said the slain Eton workers give a face to these swelling ranks of Filipino workers in vulnerable jobs. Eton residences is a project of Lucio Tan-owned Eton Properties Philippines Inc.
“The ILO report only affirms the government’s failure to stem the rising number of jobs that are similar to those of Eton workers. It underscores impunity in addressing violations of core labor standards in workplaces,” Escresa said.
Besides the Eton tragedy, other workplace accidents last year included the death of six workers in a shipyard in Subic, Zambales run by Keppel, as well as mishaps in construction sites such in Eastwood of Megaworld Corp. and SM General Santos City, according to EILER.
“As the first death anniversary of the Eton tragedy nears, we urge the Aquino administration to do away with labor subcontracting which clearly compromises wages, job security and occupational safety. Instead, regular and high-paying jobs in strategic industries such as manufacturing must be generated,” Escresa said.
