Promoting GHS for Agriculture, Transport & Industrial Workers: The TUCP Initiative Rafael E. Mapalo Trade Union Congress of the Philippines

The TUCP Founded in 1975, composed of 30 labor federations Long tradition in providing comprehensive health and welfare services to its members Has a viable network for the provision of GHS information and training for workers

The TUCP is dedicated to… Building a trade union social movement Expanding and strengthening workers’ organizations Improving conditions of work and life of workers and their families

CONTEXT Highly globalized environment Highly globalized environment Increasing feminization of labor Increasing feminization of labor Growing informalization of work Growing informalization of work Increasing precariousness of work Increasing precariousness of work Need to re-invent trade unionism to become more responsive to other than the traditional needs & concerns of worker Need to re-invent trade unionism to become more responsive to other than the traditional needs & concerns of worker

OBJECTIVES This initiative aims to contribute to the international & national campaign for the successful promotion and application of Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) through unions’ active participation. This initiative aims to contribute to the international & national campaign for the successful promotion and application of Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) through unions’ active participation.

OBJECTIVES Specifically, the project works towards:  Increasing awareness, better understanding and appreciation of workers and their unions on GHS;  Integrating GHS into TUCP’s OSHE down to the local union level; and  Mobilizing union POSITIVE Core Trainers for the rapid implementation of GHS at the workplace.

KEY APPROACHES Capacity-building… training of union POSITIVE Core Trainers; Enterprise-level GHS awareness-raising activities; Partnership [with unions, employers & government] GHS integration into TUCP institutional education programs; and GHS Poster campaign

Accomplishments & Milestones Regional Training/Workshop on Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) for POSITIVE Core Trainers To improve knowledge & skills of trade union leaders on OSH and GHS To assist trade unions in developing their respective work plans towards implementing GHS at the enterprise level 25 union leaders representing:  5 industrial/manufacturing companies,  3 companies in transportation &  3 companies in the agricultural sector

Accomplishments & Milestones Participation-Oriented Safety Improvements by Trade Unions Initiative: National Trainers’ Conference A comprehensive discussion of GHS as part of the overall OSH program for both unions and companies A comprehensive discussion of GHS as part of the overall OSH program for both unions and companies Participated in by 25 POSITIVE Core Trainers  Luzon [17],  Visayas [2], &  Mindanao [6]

Accomplishments & Milestones Enterprise-Level Orientation Sessions on Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) Enterprise-Level Orientation Sessions on Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) […a continuing activity] Title of Activity(s) & Inclusive date(s) Name of Companies Number of pax (women) Enterprise-level GHS Orientation Sessions January 17, 2007SH Korean Garments20 (18 women) January 18, 2007Hye Sung Korean Electronics Co. 18 (all women) February 16, 2007Viva Footwear20 (8 women)

Accomplishments & Milestones GHS Integration into TUCP-organized Programs GHS Integration into TUCP-organized Programs Title of Activity(s) & Inclusive date(s) Companies Number of pax (women) a.Regional advocates training on Organizing and Corporate Social Responsibility (for Luzon participants) December 11-14, local unions -6 TUCP-affiliate federations -1 partner NGO -25 (10 are women) plus four RTWPB representatives from Regions IV-A, IV-B & III a.Regional Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility (for Visayas & Mindanao participants) January 15-17, local unions -1 from media -2 youth -1 Local Government Unit (LGU) -1 GO -25 participants (7 are women) a.Regional Workshop on Corporate Social Responsibility (for Luzon participants) February 08-10, local unions -2 TUCP-affiliate federations -5 GOs/LGUs -1 NGO -27 participants (7 are women) a.Focus group discussion on CSR -October 13, local unions -1 NGO -18 participants (8 are women) -November 03, local unions of the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) from the transport, agriculture and services sectors -37 participants (only 1 woman participated)

Accomplishments & Milestones Mini-survey on GHS among Trade Unions Mini-survey on GHS among Trade Unions 1. to determine the knowledge and source of GHS information among unions; 2. identify existing GHS-related policies of TUCP-unionized companies; 3. identify chemical labelling practices or systems; existing classification and hazard communications; future plans of target companies to implement GHS; and 4. determine the status of GHS implementations (if any) among respondent unions-companies.

Accomplishments & Milestones Initial analysis of the filled-up questionnaires revealed the following results: Initial analysis of the filled-up questionnaires revealed the following results:  There is poor knowledge of GHS among unions. Likewise, there is lack of awareness and GHS-related policies among TUCP unionized companies. Hence, massive and accelerated information dissemination through organized seminars and materials distribution is needed.  Unions and companies will unlikely implement GHS due to lack of awareness and legal basis that will require employers and other stakeholders to do so.  Unions have expressed willingness and articulated that the success GHS implementation at the workplace can be assured with unions’ initiative and/or active participation.

Our Partners UNIONS: 7 LABOR FEDERATIONS Associated Labour Unions (ALU) Associated Labour Unions (ALU) Association of Trade Unions (ATU, Davao) Association of Trade Unions (ATU, Davao) Pambansang Kilusan sa Paggawa (KILUSAN) Pambansang Kilusan sa Paggawa (KILUSAN) All Workers Alliance Trade Unions (AWATU) All Workers Alliance Trade Unions (AWATU) Philippine Transport and General Workers Organization (PTGWO) Philippine Transport and General Workers Organization (PTGWO) National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers’ Union (PACIWU) Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers’ Union (PACIWU) GOVERNMENT: (2 AGENCIES) Occupational Safety and Health Center – Department of Labour and Employment (OSHC-DOLE) Occupational Safety and Health Center – Department of Labour and Employment (OSHC-DOLE) Bureau of Investments, Department of Trade & Industry (BOI-DTI) Bureau of Investments, Department of Trade & Industry (BOI-DTI)

Plans of MOVING FORWARD… Resource mobilization to support GHS activities for unions Resource mobilization to support GHS activities for unions Expansion of GHS capacity-building activities to reach a wider number of unions & companies Expansion of GHS capacity-building activities to reach a wider number of unions & companies Intensify the conduct of local union-level education Intensify the conduct of local union-level education Production of localized resource & other info materials for union trainers Production of localized resource & other info materials for union trainers Collective bargaining [for management support for workers’ education] Collective bargaining [for management support for workers’ education] Establish a local labour network for GHS Establish a local labour network for GHS Advocacy for the integration GHS in several government monitoring tools Advocacy for the integration GHS in several government monitoring tools Advocacy for the integration of GHS and chemical safety in CSR programs of companies. Advocacy for the integration of GHS and chemical safety in CSR programs of companies.

Thank you!