Senator Leila de Lima slammed on Thursday, April 22, the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) proposal to require a national police clearance (NPC) for various labor-related transactions, saying it would be a violation of a worker’s rights to privacy.
The proposal, which is now under consideration by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), would be in violation of rights of workers and undermine Filipinos’ rights to join labor unions, the detained senator stressed.
“Requiring a PNP clearance for labor-related transactions is a violation of the rights of an individual to privacy on his personal information and his freedom to join labor unions and organizations,” De Lima said.
“What is clear is that in proposing that the PNP clearance be made mandatory for various DOLE transactions, the real intent is that PNP wants to harvest data from employees and labor unions,” she lamented.
The opposition lawmaker said she believes the PNP is aware that it cannot simply demand DOLE to provide data without cause or warrant because it would be a violation of the country’s data privacy laws.
“So they are indirectly doing so by asking DOLE to require job applicants, employees and labor union officers to give their information to the PNP for a ‘clearance’ that is ultimately useless,” she pointed out.
“We all witnessed what PNP did and is still doing to labor union officers. Some of them are being painted as communists without any proof and then proceeds to summarily execute them claiming that they fought back or ‘nanlaban’ (resisted),” she said.
Instead of acceding to the request of the PNP, the senator said DOLE should deny the PNP’s proposal.
“Does DOLE want to take part in this bloodbath? DOLE should protect our workers. They should also protect the labor union leaders who are our partners in protecting employee welfare. This is DOLE’s mandate,” she pointed out.
“Worse, the proposal for a police clearance adds a new burden to our workers, many of whom are currently out looking for work because of the recession brought about by this government’s failed COVID-19 response,” she reiterated.
De Lima also said requiring workers to apply for an NPC clearance from PNP would be an additional financial burden to laborers.
“Hindi pa ba sapat ang NBI clearance para sa mga taong may pending na kaso o kaya may outstanding warrant? Bakit kailangan pa ng PNP clearance (Isn’t an National Bureau of Investigation clearance enough for persons who have pending cases or have an outstanding warrant? Why require a PNP clearance)?” she asked.
“Dagdag pasakit, pahirap, at bayarin pa yan sa milyon-milyong Filipino na ngayon ay naghahanap ng trabaho (That’s an additional burden and financial strain for millions of Filipinos who are now looking for a job). (There’s) no rhyme. No reason. Except possibly some sinister motivation,” she stressed.
De Lima said: “This suggested PNP clearance for DOLE transactions will not help our people or our economy. What it does is violate the rights of our workers and erode our democracy."
"The DOLE should not be complicit," she appealed.