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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Labor groups call for abolition of mediation board in Manila

Labor groups call for abolition of mediation board in Manila

Published Jul 11, 2024 06:52 am

By Richielyn Canlas

Various labor groups marched from Liwasang Bonifacio to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday, July 11, to demand for the abolition of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), saying that it is an anti-labor policy.

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Photo courtesy of Butch Mandirigma Pena

Butch Mandirigma Pena, vice president of the Association of Genuine Labor Organizations (AGLO), said that the protest march was held to show their opposition to the revised NCMB Manual, Omnibus Guidelines on the Exercise of Freedom of Association, and Civil Liberties signed by 10 government agencies headed by DOLE.

They also called for the dismantling of the Regional Wage and Productivity Board (RWPB).

The NCMB was created under Executive Order No. 126 which reorganized the DOLE. It “shall formulate policies, develop plans and programs, and set standards and procedures relative to the promotion of conciliation and mediation of labor disputes through preventive mediation, conciliation, and voluntary arbitration; facilitation of labor-management cooperation through joint mechanisms for information sharing, effective communication and consultation, and group problem-solving.”

One of the issues that the protesters raised was that the NCMB does not welcome employees who do not have employer-employee relationships.

“Naturingang mediation, pero ang nilalaman ng omnibus guidelines ay hindi nila winiwelcome ang mga manggagawa kapag ito ay walang employer's-employee relationship (Although it's called mediation, the content of the omnibus guidelines does not welcome workers when they have no employer-employee relationship),” they said.

The protesters brought a large banner that read, “NCMB buwagin! Anti-labor policy (Abolish NCMB!).”

They also carried placards with messages such as “Dismantle the regional wage board!," “Right to self-organization!,” “Kilalanin ang karapatan ang mag-unyon (Recognize the right to unionize),” “Regional wage board buwagin pahirap sa manggagawa at maralita (Abolish the regional wage board; it is a burden on workers and the poor),” “D.O. 174 Manpower agency ibasura! Instrumento ng mga kapitalista (Abolish D.O. 174 Manpower agency! It is an instrument of the capitalists),” and “Justice delayed, justice denied,” among others.

The protesters included members of Kilos Manggagawa, AGLO, the National Confederation of Labor (NCL), and Kilusang Manggagawang Makabayan (KMM), among others.

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