The labor coalition Pagkakaisa ng Uring Manggagawa urged Thursday the immediate dismissal of the Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro who has been recalled for the alleged maltreatment of her household staff.
"PAGGAWA demands nothing less than the immediate dismissal of Ms. (Marichu) Mauro not just from the foreign service but also from government service," said National Confederation of Labor (NCL) president Atty. Ernesto Arellano in a statement.
"These disgusting actions by no less than a high ranking diplomat of our government are utterly revolting. At a time when millions of Filipino workers here and abroad are suffering from rampant employer abuse and a pandemic-induced economic crisis, the actions of Ms. Mauro become doubly insulting," he added.
Kilusan ng Manggagawang Makabayan (KMM-Katipunan) president Nathanial Clores said it is ironic that the perpetrator is the same person that's supposed to protect Filipino workers overseas.
"How can we expect to defend our ‘Bagong Bayanis’ (new heroes) when our own foreign attaché is no different from an abusive foreign employer?" he asked.
Association of Genuine Labor Organizations (AGLO) Vice President Eduardo Laurencio said the video that surfaced on the Internet against Mauro is clear and should be enough for her immediate dismissal.
He said the investigation that the government will conduct must also identify all those complicit in the matter either by condoning such disgusting behavior or turning a blind eye.
"All involved directly or indirectly involved in the abuse must also be reprimanded and punished commensurately," said Laurencio.PAGGAWA underscored the silence of the Department of Labor and Employment on the issue.
"What does the DoLE have to say about all of this? Secretary Bello, and by extension the entire Duterte administration, must demonstrate that they do not tolerate this kind of behavior towards workers, especially from public servants. The DoLE must join organized labor's call for the immediate dismissal of Ambassador Mauro," said Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino chairman and PAGGAWA spokesperson Ka Leody de Guzman.