TUCP lauds the proposed Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Code (BLEC)

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country’s biggest labor group, lauds the proposed Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Code (BLEC) that will be passed by the Bangsamoro Parliament as one of its priority regional legislations. 

“The BLEC could be even better than the Philippine Labor Code in terms of protecting and promoting the fundamental rights of workers. I commend Labor and Employment Minister Datu Romeo K. Sema and the leadership of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) led by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim for shepherding the drafting and eventual legislation of the region’s own labor code that will truly serve and give justice and dignity to all working people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The BLEC would give the regional government a seal of good housekeeping that would bring in investments in the region. This influx of investments to the region will generate massive employment and livelihood opportunities not only for residents of BARMM but for all the people of Mindanao”, said Mendoza.

“We are happy that the Ministry of Labor and Employment is committed to implement a labor and employment code that would promote decent work and inclusive development in BARMM, as we all know preferential access or zero tariffs entry of goods in foreign markets such as the US and EU is conditioned on observance of international labor standard”,  Mendoza added.

TUCP President and partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza as the Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Mindanao Affairs in the 17th Congress fully supported and voted for the passage of Republic Act No. 11054 or the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” which recognized the full right of Bangsamoro people to self-determination through regional autonomy and development while ensuring that labor justice will be secured by the new regional government. 

The proposed regional labor law specifically prohibits child labor and promotes women rights and gender equality while still recognizes unique cultural and religious practices. It likewise guarantee the rights of public sector workers to organize, collectively bargain and peaceful concerted actions as covered under the MOLE while personnel matters are with the BARMM civil service in implementation of all International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions, specifically ILO Convention No. 151 on public sector labor relations.

“I am very hopeful that we will be able to pass in Congress the Public Sector Labor Relations law that would protect the rights and promote the welfare of all government employees including those working in the regional government and the local government units in BARMM. To all government workers in BARMM, rest assured that TUCP will continuously work to improve your conditions and the rest of the public sector”, Mendoza emphasized.

“A new dawn for the autonomous region is now at hand. We in the TUCP are one with our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters – our fellow workers- who are our real hope and whose great contributions will gradually transform the region from an area where poverty, inequality, injustice, underdevelopment and violence had persisted for decades, to a land where justice, equality, freedom, abundance, development and peace will be enjoyed by everyone,” Mendoza finally added.