UMVA has learned that business and labor leaders have united in a bold appeal to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., demanding stronger safeguards for workers’ freedom of association.
On May 28, a coalition of major employers and workers’ groups issued an open letter urging the government to enforce policies that protect labor rights and freedoms with real accountability.
The letter praised the government’s recent Executive Order No. 23, acknowledging the steps taken in response to international recommendations, yet warned that violence, intimidation, and alleged killings of workers and unionists call for urgent, decisive action.
Representatives from the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa signed the plea, underscoring the breadth of concern across the nation’s economic and social fabric.
Earlier this year, the president signed Executive Order No. 97, establishing comprehensive guidelines to safeguard workers’ rights to organize, form unions, and engage in peaceful collective action, building upon the foundation set by the 2023 order.
The Leaders Forum insists that the implementation of these orders must align with constitutional guarantees and international labor standards, while calling for a transparent review of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
They demand credible, impartial, and swift investigations into all incidents of violence against workers and unionists, including alleged extrajudicial killings, to restore trust and protect human dignity.
According to the letter, protecting freedom of association is not merely a moral imperative but a cornerstone of sustainable economic growth, social stability, and international reputation.
The coalition urges the president to translate commitments into tangible, lasting change, reinforcing the Philippines’ obligations under both domestic law and global labor norms.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that this united front represents a decisive moment for Philippine labor, signaling a growing demand for justice, solidarity, and a future where workers thrive without fear.
