Multisectoral organizations gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio to celebrate the International Working Women’s Day (IWWD) and amplify calls for women workers’ rights on March 8.
The mobilization brought together labor unions, advocacy groups, and women workers from various industries to highlight pressing issues such as wage disparity, contractualization, and workplace harassment, to name a few.
Juanas fight, the system bites back
Despite compromising a significant portion of the workforce, women across various industries continue to face systemic oppression. The gender pay gap, contractualization, and unsafe working conditions remain pervasive, disproportionately affecting women workers.
“Hindi talaga nakabubuhay ang sahod ngayon. Low wages talaga and extreme poverty ang hinaharap ng ating mga manggagawa… dapat talaga magkaroon ng pagkakapantay-pantay sa usapin ng paggawa—Hindi lang sa pay kundi sa mga kondisyon sa trabaho ng paggawa,” said Gabriela Partylist Representative Arlene Brosas.
Contractualization and job insecurity are also concerns raised by labor organizations. Many women workers, particularly in the manufacturing and service industries, remain trapped under contractual agreements that deny them rightful benefits.
Aside from wage concerns, labor groups have also highlighted issues regarding harassment and discrimination within and outside of their workplaces.
“Nasa 36 na mga kababaihan ang nakakaranas ng iba't ibang porma ng VAW (violence against women) kada araw. Isa lamang sa kada sampung kababaihan ang nag-rereport at nagsusumbong dahil walang tiwala sa awtoridad o kaya natatakot sa victim shaming o victim blaming o kaya nababahala sa kultura ng katahimikan,” said Gabriela Women’s Party 1st Nominee Sarah Elago.
Joanne Cesario, Vice Chair for Women’s Affairs of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), also emphasized the importance of implementing labor policies and reforms that are both worker-centered and gender-responsive. She stressed that addressing gender discrimination in the workplace demands systemic change, particularly in dismantling the deeply rooted macho-feudal culture that perpetuates inequality.
DOLE: for the bosses, not the masses?
Speakers at the event also criticized the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for failing to protect workers’ rights, with Cesario condemning the agency’s perceived bias towards corporations.
"Hindi na pala Department of Labor and Employment ang ibig sabihin ng DOLE—Department of Labor Exploitation na pala! Sa halip na magsilbi sa manggagawa, inuuna ng DOLE ang interes ng malalaking negosyo," Cesario said.
Brosas likewise called out what she described as "performative" labor laws, arguing that many existing policies offer only in-paper protections without meaningful implementation.
As Brosas puts it, "Sa totoo lang, maraming batas [ang] nagkukunwari na pro-people siya, pero ang totoo, anti-people policies… dahil ang kalagayan natin ngayon, ang sinusunod ng kasalukuyang rehimeng Marcos ay neoliberal policies. Definitely ang magiging itsura niyan ay hindi para sa mga mahirap at mga mamamayan [nating] manggagawa at magsasaka."
The fight for just wages, job security, and safe working conditions continues—with women workers at the forefront of the labor movement. The calls raised during the annual celebration highlight long-standing struggles that persist despite the existence of labor policies meant to protect workers.
“Ang lugar ng mga kababaihang manggagawa ay nasa pakikibaka. Wala tayong ibang aasahan kundi ang sarili nating lakas, kundi ang sarili nating pag-oorganisa,” Cesario stressed.
While the government upholds existing labor laws as protective, labor groups argue that without proper enforcement, these policies fail women workers who remain vulnerable to exploitation.
Article: Jane Andes
Graphics: Ramier Vincent Pediangco
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