THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) officially announces the names of the 12 senatoriables it is endorsing for the upcoming 2022 National and Local Elections (2022 NLE).

“We are confident that these twelve pro-workers senatoriables will carry the torch for working men and women as well as their families in the next Senate. Their presence will be critical in ensuring that the next Administration will address the need to create jobs that have been lost in [the] pandemic, and to ensure that workers will not fall victim to increased labor flexibilization, and unfair wages,” said TUCP President Raymond Mendoza.

“After a lengthy, diligent, and thorough vetting process, and in consultation with the members of our federations, we believe that these Senatoriables have platforms and programs that are truly aligned with our “Otso-Otso Agenda” which incorporate our priority 8 Legislative Agenda and our 8 Executive Policy Agenda,” added Mendoza.

The TUCP, nationwide, will actively campaign and work for the victory of the 12 senate bets.

Senator Risa Hontiveros for having passed the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, and championing the Senate ratification of ILO Convention 151, recognizing the right of Government workers to unionize and collectively bargain.

Ex-DPWH Secretary Mark Villar for pushing the Build-Build-Build initiative, which has created jobs for the construction workers and increased the critical infrastructure necessary to revive the flagging economy.

Human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares for his lifelong commitment to the cause of human rights and labor rights, and for making common cause with all workers regardless of ideology or organizational distinction.

Former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro for his long involvement in the professionalization and modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and his holistic and programmatic approach to developing a more effective disaster resiliency program in a country facing countless typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Senator Joel Villanueva for championing “Security of Tenure” and the passage of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and for being a partner of the TUCP in all its legislative initiatives.

Representative Loren Legarda for championing the cause of indigenous peoples, the environmental movement, and alternative energy, most especially solar.

Representative Allan Peter Cayetano for passing the “Iskolar ng Bayan” Act and the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons Act, and for continually pushing for legislation that ensures the protection of marginalized sectors.

Labor leader Elmer Labog for his service and sacrifice for the Filipino workers and his courage in pursuing the path of labor justice.

Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno for his genuine love, dedication, and sacrifice to advocate social justice and respect of human rights in the face of great odds.

Former MinDA Chairman Emmanuel Piñol for being a true Mindanaoan leader, who understands the agricultural needs and developmental concerns of all of Mindanao.

Senator Richard Gordon for always being among the first to respond to all disasters and crises, placing the needs of victims, the dispossessed, and the homeless first and foremost through his long and inspired leadership of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).

Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada for passing the Kasambahay Law, OWWA Act, and the Special Program of Employment of Studies Act during his long chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Labor.

“Now more than ever, it is important that we vote for candidates that will fight to protect and help the people that need it the most – our workers and their families. It is of utmost importance that we elect people that will support the TUCP Legislative and Executive Policy Agenda as we try to recover from the economic aftermath caused by the pandemic, and continue to save jobs and save lives,” said Mendoza.

“First, we need to create decent jobs. The ten-month average for unemployment remains at four million unemployed. The ten-month average for underemployment is at seven million. These numbers represent eleven million families, who along with workers in the informal sector, are at increased risk of hunger and falling more into poverty. We need these senatoriables, who have demonstrated an appreciation of how to create jobs as clearly, the ‘ayuda’ of TUPAD, CAMP, and SWBS will never be enough. Second, we need to address job security both in the private and public sector, as contractualization in both sectors continues to be a dead-end for millions of workers who will forever be minimum wage earners, and therefore remain without hope, without social mobility, and without a future,” explained Mendoza.

The labor center is urging the present and next administration to create 4 million jobs in 2022 to 2023, by undertaking the construction of a National Railway System and Regional Agro-Industrial Hubs. These initiatives will create construction sector jobs in the meantime with an additional multiplier employment effect. Once the railways and hubs are constructed, this will lower the cost of doing business in the regions, attract the entry of investors and locators, generate more decent employment, address food security, decongest NCR (National Capital Region) and Region IV-A, and ensure widespread democratic wealth creation.

The TUCP also proposes that the Ports of Manila and contiguous areas be developed as an “International Seafarers Crew Change Hub” that will help in creating more local jobs serving the Seafaring industry, including jobs in hotels, restaurants, tourism, and hospitals while defending the country’s standing as the top provider of seafarers for the past 50 years.

The TUCP continues to push for a paid 15-day isolation and quarantine leave and free COVID-19 testing for all workers; increased pay, special risk allowance, meal and transportation allowances to all health care workers; and the provision of financial aid, wage subsidy, and seed capital through CAMP, SBWS TUPAD, and DILP. The labor center likewise pushes for lowering the cost of electricity to make the economy ASEAN-competitive.

The TUCP wants candidates that will support the labor group’s legislative agenda which include the enactment of a genuine “Security of Tenure Law” to ensure that the norm in labor relations is to have regular workers rather than contractual or ENDO workers; the “Public Service Labor Relations Law” as implementing law of International Labor Convention 151, recognizing the right of public sector workers to organize, collectively bargain, and engage in peaceful collective action; the “Equivalency Bill” for public sector’s contractual workers to be regularized without the need of passing the Civil Service Exam; the “Magna Carta of Seafarers” to protect the rights of our seafarers both in the global maritime and cruise industry, and the local manning and cargo industry; and the “Magna Carta for Workers in the Informal Economy” to help millions of informal workers transition to and become part of the formal economy.

The TUCP is also pushing for the Philippine ratification of International Labor Convention 188 for workers in the fishing industry to protect workers in one of the most hazardous, unregulated, and exploitative industries, and for the country to fully comply with our commitments in EU-GSP+ and US-GSP for tariff-free access of our export products.