Women’s rights and empowerment is a cornerstone of the Associated Labor Union’s advocacy, underscoring the commitment to achieving gender equality and advancing the status of women in the workplace. The ALU’s advocacy for women’s rights and empowerment moves toward creating an environment where women have equal opportunities, fair treatment, and a more equitable and supportive work environment where women can fully realize their potential at home and at work.
The Associated Labor Unions also has a dedicated women’s committee, the ALU National Committee on Women (ANCW) chaired by an Ex Officio Representative to the National Executive Board. The committee’s mandate is to organize, protect, and empower women workers.
The following are some of the landmark activities and initiatives of the ALU through its women’s committee in advocacy of women’s rights and empowerment:
In 2018, ALU, with the IndustriALL Philippines Women’s Committee, led the executive and legislative advocacy campaign on Expanded Maternity Leave (EML), which was signed into law on 21 February 2019.
Now Republic Act 11210, the 105-Day EML Law extended the maternity leave of working mothers from 60 days to 105 days. Working mothers may also opt to extend for another 30 days of leave without pay once they give birth.
The International Labour Organization Convention 190 (ILO C190) is the first comprehensive international treaty focusing on the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work. The convention was adopted in June 2019 during the 108th Session of the International Labor Conference of the International Labour Organization, and came into force on 25 June 2021. ALU immediately began campaigning for the ratification of the convention, later ratified by the Philippine President on 13 October 2023, then concurred by the Philippine Senate on 11 December 2023.
Years before the landmark Philippine ratification of ILO C190, ALU undertook preparatory works and advocacy efforts. For the ILO C190 campaign to gain traction at the enterprise level, the ALU conducted ILO C190 cascading activities; wrote separate letters to the immediate past and current Philippine Presidents, select senators, secretaries of Labor and Employment, and other influencers, lobbying for immediate ratification of ILO C190; and attended hearings of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for the concurrence of the Philippine Senate to the ratification of the Philippine President to ILO C190.
