The International Federation of Journalists is alarmed at reports that one of the Philippines’ largest broadcasters ABS-CBN has terminated 31 employees who refused to accept retrograde working conditions.

In an attempt to undermine the rights of workers to fair conditions, ABS-CBN since early this year has been offering permanent employment to staff in exchange for the withdrawal of labour complaints against management. The agreement offered by management also excluded any back-pay of employees who have been working for up to 22 years at the broadcaster.

“ABS-CBN’s demand that staff waive their rights and working conditions in exchange for permanent employment is deplorable move that attempts to ignore international norms of fairness and justice,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“The International Federation of Journalists joins with its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, in calling for ABS-CBN to withdraw these contracts, reinstate the staff and recognise the right employees have to permanent work and all related benefits under law, free of retrograde conditions.”

Since 2002, ABS-CBN has used a labour-hire firm, Internal Job Market (IJM), to employ about 1600 ABS-CBN staff.

ABS-CBN IJM Union President Antonio "Ads" Perez said that employment contractor schemes such as IJM are being used “to circumvent employees’ right to security of tenure”.

Employees who refused the regularisation contracts were not given work schedules (rosters) and were denied access to the company's premises. 

The contracts include a confidentiality clause that requires workers not join a union, which breaches the right to free association, including the right to form and join trade unions, enshrined in the Philippines Labor Code as well as Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the Philippines has signed and ratified.

The IFJ wrote to the broadcaster’s management last month, raising concerns about the attempts by ABS-CBN to block fair compensation and conditions for the work of journalists and media workers, which is fundamentally linked to the development of a quality, professional and ethical media in the Philippines. The letter is attached here.

IFJ Letter to ABS-CBN 16Jun10.pdf

“Rank and file employees are the most important asset of a quality media organisation, and we condemn any move by ABS-CBN to deny job security and fair working conditions to employees who have shown dedication, loyalty and commitment to their company,” Ms Park said.

“As President-elect Benigno Aquino has taken office, the International Federation of Journalists reminds ABS-CBN that the international community will be eager to see management take a fair and reasonable attitude to the rights of employees to job security, fair working conditions and collective representation through their union.”

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 125 countries