NYC CLC Hosts Philippines Human and Workers' Rights Advocates

Last week the NYC CLC was honored to host a visit with trade unionist Anne Krueger of the BPO Industry Employee Network (BIEN), which works for the rights and welfare of business process outsourcing industry employees in the Philippines, as well as representatives of the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP).

The Philippines was named by the International Trade Union Confederation as one of the worst countries for trade unionists due to persistent violations of labor rights and even relentless killings of worker leaders. State repression has been used to curtail the right to unionize. This repression is a response to the work of militant unions that are at the forefront of ensuring the rights and welfare of workers in the Philippines.

Through these unions, workers have been able to fight back against the many abuses of the industry: low wages, lack of job security, intensifying workloads, and unsafe working conditions. International worker solidarity is urgently needed to support Filipino workers and the Filipino people at large in the struggle for rights, livelihood, and genuine democracy. Read more about the conditions facing call center workers and organizers (including BIEN's Anne Krueger) here, and watch a People's Forum "Labor Fights Back: Roundtable Discussion with First Philippines Call Center Union" here!