Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas on Monday, Nov. 28, asked the Marcos administration to ratify and enforce the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Convention 190 (C190), which recognizes the right of everyone to a violent-free workplace, including gender-based violence and harassment.
The lawmaker described the C190 as a treaty that tackles physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm to workers, while underscoring the “heightened vulnerabilities of women brought about by the worsening economic crisis.”
“ILO Convention 190 offers a broader definition of the world of work, to include not just usual work settings but also the modes of transit to and from work as well as work-from-home arrangements especially in light of the pandemic,” she said in her privilege speech during Monday’s plenary session.
She is hoping Congress could discuss not only the reasons for these vulnerabilities to women, but also the measures that will address these issues.
Brosas, a member of Lower House’s progressive Makabayan bloc, also announced the launch of the “House of Representatives the Parliamentarians and Advocates for Ratify C190 Network,” which enjoys the support of over 80 lawmakers and dozens more advocates.
The launch is in time to the commemoration of the 18 Day of Activism to end violence against women and children and a continuation of the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW).
“Moving forward, it is important to underscore the need to address the gaps in our current laws. We need strengthen mechanisms for redress and remedies in various work settings, to monitor and penalize various forms of discrimination and abuse,” she said.
“We also need to provide additional protection and recognition of workers in the informal economy. But more importantly, we need to address the economic vulnerabilities from which these kinds of abuse and violence stem,” the lawmaker added.
Calling for decent wages and benefits across all regions of the country, Brosas cited the Occupational Wages Survey (OWS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2020 which said that the average monthly wage was P16,486 across jobs such as computer network professionals, software developers, engineers, service sector workers, and low-skilled workers.
This, she said, is 9 percent lower than the P18,108 average monthly wage in 2018.
She also argued that P570 minimum monthly wage in the country is lower than the P1,133 family living wage.
In a statement issued after the launch of the exhibit and network for the ratification of C190, Brosas highlighted the need to “ramp up all efforts to fight gender-based discrimination and violence in the world of work.”
"In the Philippines, women workers have become extremely vulnerable to violence and abuse, characterized by low wages, lack of benefits, union busting, and unsafe work conditions,” she said.
"Now, more than ever, we must broaden our alliances and networks to highlight the issues of women workers and enjoin all advocates in addressing the worsening economic crisis," the lawmaker added.
C190 has so far been in force in Argentina, Ecuador, Fiji, Greece, Italy, Mauritius, Namibia, Somalia, and Uruguay.
It is expected to enter into force in Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Central African Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by 2023.
According to ILO’s website, governments that ratify C190 “will be required to put in place the necessary laws and policy measures to prevent and address violence and harassment in the world of work.“
It has also embarked on a global campaign to build support for C190, and for constituents, stakeholders and civil society actors to get involved.
“The end goal is for the Convention to be ratified and implemented by national governments and legislative assemblies around the world,” the website wrote.