Workers Watch

01/12/2025

31/10/2025

03/10/2025

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

3 October 2025

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘀: 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗚𝗢 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗻𝘀 “𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀-𝗮𝘀-𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹” 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗣𝗢 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗯𝘂 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗸𝗲

We strongly condemn the inhumane treatment of employees by certain BPO companies in Cebu during the 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30.

A complaint filed by the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) Cebu alleges, among others, that companies compelled employees to continue working, not to drop calls, and return to their stations despite the severe tremor, while another reportedly blocked exits, preventing evacuation and medical attention to a pregnant worker. Some screenshots making rounds on social media indicate workers being made to submit notices to explain (NTEs) for supposedly “abandoning” work when they left work premises after the earthquake.

BPO workers are humans, not robots. They have the right to refuse work in situations where their lives are endangered. The business-as-usual practices of such BPO companies during a disaster are an affront to labor rights and human dignity, and are condemnable.

This latest disregard and neglect of worker safety echoes the 2017 Davao City tragedy of yet another BPO company, where 37 employees of a market research firm lost their lives in a fiery massacre. Ultimately, while the building was found not to meet the standards of the fire code, neither the mall nor the employer was held accountable. Such disregard for employee safety is a gross violation of the Labor Code and Republic Act No. 11058, the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law of 2018.

We urge the DOLE to investigate these violations, ensure accountability, and uphold workers’ rights. BPO companies must prioritize employee safety and dignity over profit. Compliance with OSH standards to ensure safe workplaces is not optional - it is a legal and moral obligation.

SunStar Davao Davao Today MindaNews Mindanao Times

30/09/2025

In the Philippines, 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲-- monitored for their activity, behavior, and even personal traits through advanced technologies. This growing control leaves them vulnerable, raising urgent questions about privacy, dignity, and fair treatment in the workplace.

Below is the national situation of workers in our country. 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙘𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨’ 𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨!

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Photos credits to NLDFI.

26/09/2025

What are Digital Rights and Why Should Workers Care?

In the digital era, digital rights are human rights. Workers, particularly gig and low-wage workers, are increasingly being unfairly monitored and controlled by digital technologies, from AI surveillance to being paid only when your mouse moves.

Every second of "idle" time, clicks, and breaks are being monitored by employers.
We can, however, fight back.

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23/09/2025

𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨?

Obrer@: Safe at Work, Safe Online is an advocacy campaign by the Nonoy Librado Development Foundation Inc. with the support of Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, which 𝗮𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀.

Read the primer for further information and follow us to support our ongoing campaign to promote women workers’ digital rights!

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