Unions say over 20,000 workers in Philippines’ textile, garment and leather goods sector have been laid-off due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are calling for tripartite social partners to come up with a “coherent and realistic” recovery plan.
In the absence of an industry recovery plan, unions fear many more job losses will come over the course of the next three to six months.
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On 10 June, the clothing and textile industry tripartite council met to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the textile and garment sector in the Philippines. The “massive” job displacement, loss of income and reduction of working hours due to lack and cancellation of orders were pressing issues, it said.
According to employers’ organisation Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines, more than 30% of employees at their member companies have been retrenched due to factory closures as many contracts and orders have been cancelled and financial liquidity is running low.
Unions are demanding the government and employers come up with “immediate and appropriate” measures to prevent more job losses and preserve workers’ income. Income support and assistance to the affected workers needs to be extended by the government, especially for those who remain temporary unemployed, they say.
The unions also stress that safety and health protocols need to observed to ensure a safe workplace.
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By GlobalData“The tripartite social partners need to come up with a coherent and realistic recovery plan for the textile and garment sector,” says Eva Arcos of Associated Labor Unions. “It is a very challenging task ahead of us amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but we cannot afford to keep our workers out of job and the income they need to support their families.
“We need a roadmap for the textile and garment industry, taking into account the impact of Covid-19 on in the sector and with the participation of different the stakeholders. It is important to engage with unions in this process to be able to integrate labor and social rights.”
