Workers fear union rights rollback under Recto leadership

Labor leaders are raising alarm over the future of workers’ rights to unionize following the appointment of Executive Secretary Ralph Recto as head of the Inter-Agency Committee on Freedom of Association.

The Federation of Free Workers warned that Recto’s leadership of the IAC-FOA could undermine efforts to protect labor rights, citing his past record and recent government decisions.

“We fought for a presidentially mandated body that would address the extrajudicial killing of workers and other blatant violations of the freedom of association convention,” said FFW President Atty. Sonny Matula. “Now that a high government official who has no heart for workers is heading it, we fear a lot of setbacks on the horizon.”

The IAC-FOA was established under Executive Order No. 23 in 2023 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., following pressure from the International Labour Organization’s High-Level Tripartite Mission.

The ILO raised serious concerns over the killings, enforced disappearances and red-tagging of union leaders during the Duterte administration.

Under EO 23, the Executive Secretary was designated to lead the committee.

“More than a month into his tenure as E.S., we have not heard of any meetings with workers to address the EJK of workers and other recommendations of the ILO-HLTM,” Matula said. “Instead, we hear him shamelessly justifying the transfer of PhilHealth funds to the government despite the Supreme Court ruling favoring the workers’ petition.”

Matula also criticized what he described as a double standard in public accountability, referencing Recto’s past role as finance secretary.

“Ordinary workers get sidelined for a simple rules slip—no promotion, minsan may memo pang kaakibat na, may demotion pa,” he said.

“But Ralph Recto pulls off a colossal constitutional blunder of PHP 60 billion, and voilà: from DOF Secretary to Executive Secretary—parang budol na rewards program—the bigger the mistake, the bigger the upgrade. This is not meritocracy in government,” he added.

In September, President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 97, which elevated the Omnibus Guidelines on Freedom of Association and Civil Liberties from a joint memorandum circular to a full executive order.

“The silence is deafening,” Matula said. “EO 97 was promising as it turned mere guidelines into a presidential order. Unfortunately, the new E.S. has not given any attention to operationalizing it.”

The FFW also echoed concerns raised by Caritas Philippines and the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace over the PHP 8.1 billion allocation for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

“The big jump in the proposed budget for NTF-ELCAC is a step in the wrong direction,” Matula said. “Workers have long complained about its red-tagging activities. Employers have joined us in calling for its abolition. And yet, we see the administration putting up funds for it again.”

The labor group accused the task force of suppressing civil liberties and misusing public funds through its barangay-level projects.

“Walang pinag-iba ang flood control projects na naging paraan para nakawin ang kaban ng bayan, sa pamimigay ng pera ng NTF-ELCAC sa mga barangay para sa infrastructure at kapital para sa kabuhayan, na pawang wala sa mandato nito,” Matula said.

In early 2025, the FFW released its Workers’ Rights Watch Report, developed with the Danish Trade Union Development Agency and supported by the European Union.

The report recommended abolishing the NTF-ELCAC due to its alleged human rights violations and redundancy.

“Apart from violating workers’ rights, the NTF-ELCAC also duplicates the functions of the DPWH, DSWD and DTI,” Matula said.

The FFW said it is still awaiting the results of the Commission on Human Rights’ inquiry into red-tagging, which CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-Latoc has pledged to release soon.