ALU-TUCP News Release-- Philippine Unions Calls for Inspection for Asbestos in Public Buildings
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ALU Associated Labor Unions
Apr 24, 2011, 11:00:16 PM4/24/11
to Ban Asbestos Philippines
ALU-TUCP News Release
Philippine Unions Call For Inspection For Asbestos In Public Buildings
25 April 2011, Quezon City--Unions will commemorate and highlight the
International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) on April 28 with a call for
the Philippine government to inspect public buildings and to reduce
exposure of workers and their families to presence of asbestos and
asbestos containing materials.
The call by the Associated Labor Unions, the Trade Union Congress of
the Philippines, and the Building and Wood Workers International (ALU-
TUCP-BWI) underscores the government brimming agenda in implementing
international agreements and national laws and regulations for the
safety and health of thousands of Filipino workers.
The call also stresses the need to fast-track the promulgation and
implementation of a National Program for Elimination of Asbestos-
Related Diseases (NPEAD), a consensus policy document that advocates
strategies for elimination of asbestos-related diseases.
The perceived needs – government records of morbidity and mortality
from asbestos-related diseases and the control and supervision of
imports of 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of highly hazardous asbestos and
Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs) every year—highlight the risks
that thousands of Filipino working men and women and their families
are exposed to killer dust.
Asbestos in the Philippines are used in fiber cement boards, packaging
materials, gaskets, friction and mechanical parts such as brakes and
clutch linings in motor vehicles. Asbestos is also found in houses,
schools, churches, public buildings, malls, and similar structures.
The World Health Organization estimates 125 million workers worldwide
who are exposed to asbestos in their workplaces. This translates to an
appalling 107,000 workers dying each year to Asbestos-Related Diseases
(ARDs).
The April 28 Memorial Day activities will be guided by the theme
“Unions Make Work Safer”. The program commences with a moment of
prayer and a ceremonial candle-lighting in memory of workers killed in
workplaces, including by asbestos.
The program includes a briefing on the progress of the NPEAD, which
development started in September 2009 with a letter from then
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directing the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) to take the appropriate action ; a press conference
to call attention to the unions’ call to action statement; and a
hand-over of the call to action to DOLE and the Department of Health
(DOH) in Manila, and the Occupational Safety and Health Center
(OSHC), and DENR in Quezon City .
The commemoration will be capped by a “paseo” in malls. ###
For more information, contact: Alan A. Tanjusay, ALU Policy Advocacy
Officer +63.920.669.9187, associated...@gmail.com,
+63.2.922.5575 local 122; TUCP-PGEA Compound Maharlika corner Masaya
St., UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City.
---
About ALU-TUCP
Founded by dock workers in 1954, the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) had
since been the country’s pioneer in championing the ideals of free
trade unionism. Along with its affiliates, partners here and abroad,
and alliance with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP),
ALU has been steadfast advocate of the plight of the toiling masses
working in various industries and sectors.
The ALU-TUCP partners with Building and Woodworkers International
(BWI) in working towards asbestos ban and phase out in the
Philippines. The partnership works to eliminate asbestos-related
diseases found in public and private infrastructures and buildings
such as homes, schools, work places, churches, malls, including power
plants and toward ensuring the rights, interests and welfare of
regular and non-regular workers are promoted and protected i.e.
security of tenure, freedom of association and collective bargaining
or collective negotiation and providing limits in the duration and
renewal of employment contracts of non-regular workers to enable them
enjoy the benefits accorded to regular worker. ###
Philippine Unions Call For Inspection For Asbestos In Public Buildings
25 April 2011, Quezon City--Unions will commemorate and highlight the
International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) on April 28 with a call for
the Philippine government to inspect public buildings and to reduce
exposure of workers and their families to presence of asbestos and
asbestos containing materials.
The call by the Associated Labor Unions, the Trade Union Congress of
the Philippines, and the Building and Wood Workers International (ALU-
TUCP-BWI) underscores the government brimming agenda in implementing
international agreements and national laws and regulations for the
safety and health of thousands of Filipino workers.
The call also stresses the need to fast-track the promulgation and
implementation of a National Program for Elimination of Asbestos-
Related Diseases (NPEAD), a consensus policy document that advocates
strategies for elimination of asbestos-related diseases.
The perceived needs – government records of morbidity and mortality
from asbestos-related diseases and the control and supervision of
imports of 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of highly hazardous asbestos and
Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs) every year—highlight the risks
that thousands of Filipino working men and women and their families
are exposed to killer dust.
Asbestos in the Philippines are used in fiber cement boards, packaging
materials, gaskets, friction and mechanical parts such as brakes and
clutch linings in motor vehicles. Asbestos is also found in houses,
schools, churches, public buildings, malls, and similar structures.
The World Health Organization estimates 125 million workers worldwide
who are exposed to asbestos in their workplaces. This translates to an
appalling 107,000 workers dying each year to Asbestos-Related Diseases
(ARDs).
The April 28 Memorial Day activities will be guided by the theme
“Unions Make Work Safer”. The program commences with a moment of
prayer and a ceremonial candle-lighting in memory of workers killed in
workplaces, including by asbestos.
The program includes a briefing on the progress of the NPEAD, which
development started in September 2009 with a letter from then
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directing the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) to take the appropriate action ; a press conference
to call attention to the unions’ call to action statement; and a
hand-over of the call to action to DOLE and the Department of Health
(DOH) in Manila, and the Occupational Safety and Health Center
(OSHC), and DENR in Quezon City .
The commemoration will be capped by a “paseo” in malls. ###
For more information, contact: Alan A. Tanjusay, ALU Policy Advocacy
Officer +63.920.669.9187, associated...@gmail.com,
+63.2.922.5575 local 122; TUCP-PGEA Compound Maharlika corner Masaya
St., UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City.
---
About ALU-TUCP
Founded by dock workers in 1954, the Associated Labor Unions (ALU) had
since been the country’s pioneer in championing the ideals of free
trade unionism. Along with its affiliates, partners here and abroad,
and alliance with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP),
ALU has been steadfast advocate of the plight of the toiling masses
working in various industries and sectors.
The ALU-TUCP partners with Building and Woodworkers International
(BWI) in working towards asbestos ban and phase out in the
Philippines. The partnership works to eliminate asbestos-related
diseases found in public and private infrastructures and buildings
such as homes, schools, work places, churches, malls, including power
plants and toward ensuring the rights, interests and welfare of
regular and non-regular workers are promoted and protected i.e.
security of tenure, freedom of association and collective bargaining
or collective negotiation and providing limits in the duration and
renewal of employment contracts of non-regular workers to enable them
enjoy the benefits accorded to regular worker. ###
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