MEDIA ADVISORY

Celebrating Milestones, Recognizing Champions of Decent Work for Domestic Workers and Noel Cabangon’s Tuloy ang Biyahe concert

December 13, 2012, 5 pm onwards, PETA Theatre (No. 5, Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City)

The Philippine Campaign on Decent Work for Domestic Workers achieved significant milestones this year.  On September 5, the Philippines formally entered its ratification to International Labor Convention 189, an international instrument that mandates states to guarantee labor rights and protection to domestic workers.  After 18 years of languishing in Congress, a consolidated version of the Batas Kasambahay has already been passed by both Houses of Congress and is now awaiting the signature of the President.

To celebrate these milestones, member agencies of the Technical Working Group to the Philippine Campaign, in collaboration with the International Labor Organization, will hold the following activities on December 13, 2012 at the PETA Theater.

• An event titled Celebrating Champions for decent work for domestic workers will be held from 5 to 7 pm.   Domestic workers and their supporters will recognize the efforts of legislators, government agencies, trade unions, NGOs, and other stakeholders who were instrumental in pushing for the ILO Convention and the Batas Kasambahay.  Invited guests include Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, and Koko Pimentel and Representatives Emil Ong, Jack Enrile, Walden Bello, Sonny Angara, Emmeline Aglipay, and Raymond Mendoza.
• Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz of the Department of Labor, and Employment, Chairperson Remy Rikken of the Philippine Commission of Women, and Mr. Lawrence Jeff Johnson of the International Labor Organization will join leaders from the Alliance of Progressive Labor, the Federation of Free Workers, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Migrant Forum in Asia, and the Visayan Forum Foundation in renewing their pledge on promoting decent work for domestic workers.
• Domestic workers and their leaders through SUMAPI, a national association of domestic workers, will lead the recognition and will respond to the pledges of legislators and heads of agencies.
• A special segment during Noel Cabangon’s concert, Tuloy ang Biyahe, will be devoted to domestic workers.  Concert will start at 8pm.  Noel Cabangon will also join the pledge as a Champion for domestic workers during the Celebrating Champions event.

Media representatives are invited to cover the events.

For further details, please contact: Mr. Jerome A. Alcantara (0919-3121223)