Country Rating: 5

  • No guarantee of rights

  • Countries with the rating of 5 are the worst countries in the world to work in. While the legislation may spell out certain rights, workers have effectively no access to these rights and are therefore exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labour practices.

Murder of trade unionist: At about 8:00am on 2 July 2013, Dodong Petalcorin, President of the Davao City-based Network of Transport Organisations (NETO), an affiliate of the National Confederation of Transport Workers' Union (NCTU) – Alliance of Progressive Labour (APL) was shot three times in the chest by an assassin as he was leaving his home for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Two other APL leaders were also murdered earlier this year. Following the May 2013 elections, Romy Almacin, a Municipal Councillor and transport leader was shot to death in broad daylight. His murder is believed to be related to his campaign against graft and corruption and illegal logging in that municipality. Emilio Rivera, former Chairman of an independent transport workers' organisation, Matina Aplaya Transport Cooperative (MATRANSCO), was murdered on 25 January 2013 near the offices of the LTFRB. It is believed his murder was linked to his campaign to expose corruption at the LTFRB and to oust its director. In neither case has the state arrested or prosecuted those responsible for these crimes.

Murder of trade unionist: Kagi Alimudin P. Lucman, President of the Notre Dame Village Operators and Drivers Association (NDVODA), which was established in 2009 and affiliated to the NCTU-APL in 2010, was killed on 18 July 2013 by a lone gunman.

Refusal to implement collective agreement: The Clark Development Corporation has been refusing to implement a collective agreement concluded with the supervisors' union in March 2012. In April 2013, the Court of Appeal dismissed the company's appeal to issue a temporary restraining order against the implementation of their collective bargaining agreement with the workers. The workers announced that they would instigate a strike after the legal cooling-off period.

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