Philippines Strategic Plan 2005–2008

Like most countries in Asia who have chosen low wages as their comparative advantage in the global marketplace, Philippine workers are suffering as they are being forced to compete with Chinese wage levels. The Government and companies are making every effort to lower wages, extend working hours and de-unionise workplaces to compete globally. This is having a devastating impact on many Filipino families, and 40% of the population live below the poverty line.

To entice investment, the Government has low levels of taxation, but the resultant outcome is appallingly inadequate government spending on education, health and infrastructure such as electricity and roads.

So far, the Philippines has been spared the rapid spread of HIV as has happened in many other South East Asian and Pacific countries, but with approximately 10% of the Filipino population, or 8 million people, employed as migrant workers abroad, the potential for a HIV epidemic is always present. This is especially the case as many of these workers are employed in the areas of hospitality, construction, the entertainment industry and as seafarers. Although official figures for those with HIV are low, the government must face up to its responsibility to take greater action to prevent the spread of HIV. The remittances of these workers form a sizeable percentage of the country's GNP and the consequences of harbouring an ailing workforce will be devastating.

Union Aid Abroad's history in the Philippines

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA began assistance in the Philippines in 1987, with an agricultural project in northern Luzon. In 1988, other projects commenced which included establishing co-operatives with farmers in northern Luzon and blacksmiths training with the National Federation of Sugar Workers Union (NFSW) on the island of Negros.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA's largest project in the Philippines was an AusAID-funded occupational health and safety training project with the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD) from 1994 to 1997, but following the completion of the AusAID contract, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA continued to fund this important work.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA also began assistance in 2000 to the Positive Action Foundation of the Philippines Incorporated (PAFPI) for education, as well as providing care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families/friends.

Key issues and concerns for the Philippines

• uneven socioeconomic development, with most urban labourers and rural landless workers living below the poverty line
• lack of employment/income skills among the poor urban and rural workforce
• low productivity and incomes of the poor, especially women
• lack of access to basic and essential health services due to unaffordability and a lack of adequate government spending on health, as well as a lack of knowledge of preventable health activities
• the potential spread of the HIV/AIDS due to the high number of Filipino workers working abroad, as well as the local unregulated sex industry
• labour rights issues, including low pay, poor conditions, poor safety standards and repression of genuine trade unions which perpetuates poverty amongst workers.
• The incidence of child labour due to poverty, as well as some companies seeking the cheapest possible wages.

• Combating the spread of HIV through education on HIV and STI for workers going abroad
• Support for organisations providing care for people living with HIV/AIDS
• Support for trade unions working on improving workers' rights
• Support for organisations opposing child labour

• HIV prevention through workers' education
• Workers' rights through trade unions
• Combating child labour

• Working with PAFPI to provide pre-departure training on HIV and STIs for workers about to begin contract work abroad
• Through PAFPI, providing a drop-in centre, counselling and peer support for people living with HIV/AIDS
• Through PAFPI, providing training for the families of PLWHA of how to care for the victims, as inadequate government funding for health ensures that most care will be provided in the home.
• Workers' rights through trade unions
• Working with IOHSAD on child labour by strengthening the rights of both women and their children working as outworkers in their homes, especially in the clothing and garment sewing industry.

• Further work on workers' rights
• Expand the work on child labour

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Last Modified: Monday, 23-Apr-2007 16:28:21 EST
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