Church People- Workers Solidarity denounces worsening condition and injustice against workers amid Covid 19 pandemic
We, the Church People- Workers Solidarity, join the whole world in commemorating the International Labor Day. This day, we start with giving our highest tribute to all workers of the world who fought for human rights and social justice.
Amidst the Covid 19 pandemic, we share common goals: advancing universal health care, workers’ rights to better working condition, paid leave, job security; timely and adequate access to social services and participation in policy making.
Today is an opportune time to expose the worsening condition and the injustice being felt by our people including workers due to lack of concrete actions from the government to the Covid 19 pandemic. Many Filipinos were already infected with the virus as government did not impose travel ban of flights from China as early as January 2020. Mass testing was only implemented on the 3rd week of April when the virus has already reached many communities and has killed hundreds including frontliners. Moreover, our health care system is not also prepared for our battle against the pandemic as government funds were allocated for automatic debt servicing and military spending.
The lockdown was also implemented without prior notice and preparation. Thousands of commuters were possibly exposed to the virus as they were trapped in heavy traffic and long queue in checkpoints for many days. Workers are forced to walk many miles just to go home to their respective provinces while others are still stranded as of this moment. Government help which is only limited to few relief goods that obviously cannot feed a family only came two weeks after the lockdown.
Millions of workers and poor families did not receive the DOLE Covid 19 Mitigation Program and DSWD Social Amelioration Program 46 days since the lockdown. Clearly the fund is very small compared to the number of workers and families who are in need of assistance. Ironically, while Congress and the Palace are working on the P670 billion stimulus package for business corporation, we underscore the situation of our workers especially those working on contractual status, in sweatshops and so-called colorum establishments, those earning below the minimum wage and with no job security and not registered in the Social Security System. These workers surely cannot access the financial assistance from the DOLE as the agency’s requirement for employers to apply for the said assistance are payroll, SSS and BIR registration which many companies are not in compliance. Therefore, these already bad working conditions of our workers are being exacerbated by further negligence of the government in this time of pandemic.
In this light, we urge the government to do what is best for the common good of the people and not for the few. We reiterate our demands for free mass testing, universal health care, adequate and timely delivery of goods and services, immediate release of financial assistance to all workers and poor families, realignment of government budget to healthcare and other basic social services among others.
Lastly, as Pope Francis exhorts us not to lose hope in this time of crisis, we call on our brothers and sisters who are workers and their poor families not to give up. In prayers and in actions, let us all unite to fight against the Covid 19 and in advancing the common good, our human rights and justice.
Signed:
