THE new chief of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that based on the tenets of the Constitution, the state shall ensure the rights of workers to organize, to collectively bargain, and the right to strike shall be observed.
According to DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, he will accept and promote the rights of workers in the midst of concerns that some workers’ organizations were branded as communist sympathizers.
This was Laguesma’s reply in a television interview about the worries of militant workers’ groups that even the right to strike may be affected due to red-tagging.
He explained that the Labor department will take part in helping out on issues related to labor and promotion of workers’ rights because this is their mandate as espoused by the Philippine Constitution.
“The right to self-organization, collective bargaining, and the right to strike in accordance with law. Ang mahirap lang minsan nakakalimutan yung phrase na in accordance with law,” he added.
He reiterated that there are processes and guidelines under the law that need to be followed.
“Basta lahat ng sumusunod sa itinatadhana ng batas, kami po ay kasama nila sa pagsusulong at pangangalaga ng kanilang karapatan,” Laguesma pointed out.
“‘Yun nga, kasama rin naman sa mandate namin dun sa Constitution na tiyakin na ang mga manggagawang nakakalahok dun sa mga konsultasyon, sa decision-making process, magkaroon sila ng karampatang pakinabang dun sa tinatawag na fruits of production,” he emphasized.
The DOLE chief also mentioned that even management or company owners likewise have the right to fair and reasonable return on their investment.
“Nakalagay rin po yan sa Constitution, sa Saligang Batas. Ay sino naman po ang magne-negosyo kung lahat ay palugi? Eh di hindi magkakaroon ng expansion and growth,” according to the new DOLE chief.