After more than two years of campaigning, the Philippine government finally accepted an ILO high-level mission that visited the country in September.  The mission was prompted by a complaint filed by the Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Center about extra-judicial killings, threats, harassments, and intimidation of unionists and labour rights’ advocates.

The Philippine-based Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) recorded 70 killings and two cases of enforced disappearances in the labour sector from 2004 to 2008.  The authorities, especially those from the military and the police forces, are widely seen as being behind these killings.  

The mission’s aim was to obtain greater understanding of the application of ILO Convention 87 in law and in practice, and to provide detailed information about the trade union situation on the ground to the ILO supervisory bodies.  In addition to testimony about violence and murder of workers and union activists, the mission heard from workers’ rights groups about the ‘No Union, No Strike’ policy in the economic zones.

The CTUHR and Workers Assistance Center (WAC) are hopeful that the mission will lead to broader awareness of the danger faced by union activists in the country, as well as abuse of the judicial system to repress activism.

ILO supervisory bodies will examine the mission’s information at upcoming meetings in November-December 2009 and March 2010.  Their reports will be issued in the first quarter of 2010.