Legarda Thankful for TUCP endorsement

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the country's largest labor confederation with 1.2 million members, today endorsed the candidacy of reelectionist Sen. Loren Legarda, saying the senator was at the forefront in passing laws protecting the rights of workers.

TUCP sectoral Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza led the other officers and members in endorsing Legarda and selected senatorial candidates in ceremonies at the TUCP Building in Diliman, Quezon City.

The TUCP signed a manifesto expressing its support for Legarda and senatorial candidates Bam Aquino, Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, Alan Peter Cayetano, Risa Hontiveros, and Eddie Villanueva.

The TUCP represents both trade union workers and members from other industries, including the informal sector, drivers, urban poor, youth groups, cooperatives, alliances, coalitions and other civil society groups as well as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Legarda thanked the TUCP for its support, saying she will continue to push for legislation promoting the welfare of workers in the country as well as those abroad.

Among latest pro-workers legislation authored and supported by Legarda was the Kasambahay Law, which mandated the giving of benefits and more protection to domestic workers. The Kasambahay Law was also supported by the TUCP.

She has also led in sponsoring in the Senate the ratification of at least 19 treaties protecting migrant Filipino workers, including the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) for the protection of the rights of seafarers; and the Convention on Social Security between the Philippines and Spain.

Earlier, Legarda was endorsed by the Philippine Trade and General Workers Organization (PTGWO) for her initiatives "to improve jobs, raise decent wages for workers, and advance consumer protection."

PTGWO's members come from various industries, including textiles, garments and leather, banking and insurance, construction, mining, sports and gaming, agriculture, farm and meats, metal, food and beverage, transport and trucking, and pharmaceutical and chemical.