THE Philippine National Police, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and leaders of various trade unions have agreed to work together to prevent violence in picket lines during strikes and protect union leaders from harassment and extrajudicial killings.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the manifesto on freedom of association and collective bargaining seeks to protect workers’ rights based on international conventions.

The agreement was in response to the lingering concerns raised by the International Labor Organization (ILO) on the rising number of cases of violations of international labor standards particularly workers’ right to freedom of association due to rampant union busting, harassment of workers staging pickets and extrajudicial killings of militant labor leaders.

The ILO sent a high level mission to the Philippines in 2009 owing to the Filipino workers’ complaint against rampant violation of workers’ right to freedom of association.

Baldoz said the agreement aims to engage parties to push for reforms in the justice system “to facilitate the resolution of alleged extrajudicial killings, specifically to strengthen forensic investigations.”

“We have mapped out the way forward. The manifesto solidifies the DOLE’s strengthened policy of inclusive social dialogue,” said Baldoz.

DOLE Undersecretary for labor relations Hans Leo J. Cacdac, who media reports say has recently been appointed by Malacañang as new administrator of the Philippine Overseas Administration, said the manifesto aims to guarantee that workplaces will be maintained as “productive grounds for workers and employers.” The Federation of Free Workers, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines were among the signatories of the manifesto.

The manifesto also provides guidelines on the observance of conduct of the PNP, security guards and company security guards in export processing zones.