Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA helps women unionists in the Philipines

Construction workers speaking up at their workplace have highlighted the importance of addressing sexual harassment as a critical workplace health and safety issue, especially in male-dominated industries.

With the support of the Australian global solidarity organisation, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, the National Union of Building and Construction Workers of the Philippines (NUBCW) organised a groundbreaking roundtable discussion with a leading local construction firm.

A key moment of the roundtable was when a victim of workplace sexual harassment bravely shared her story – a first in the history of the construction firm.

‘I was new on the job and my immediate supervisor harassed me, not only once, but a couple of times,’ said Isabel Reyes*.

‘We were riding in a taxi on our way to a project site when my supervisor started to utter malicious verbal remarks with sexual undertones. And maybe because I did not say anything, the nasty words were followed by the touching of my hair, my shoulder and my hand. I yelled loudly forcing him to stop because the taxi driver was checking on us.’

NUBCW members at Labor Day, 2024.

Despite the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 being in place in the Philippines, the construction company had no policy addressing sexual harassment at that time.

Today, Isabel plays a vital role on the company’s committee on decorum, which investigates and resolves sexual harassment cases alongside union and labour representatives. She shares her experience to empower her co-workers to fight back against sexual harassment.

‘Sexual harassment is a power relation issue. People in positions of power prey on their subordinates, those who are weak and powerless. It has nothing to do with the way you dress, talk, act or express yourselves. So don’t ever blame yourself if you become a victim, blame the harasser,’ she added.

After listening to Isabel’s experience, another worker stood up to share her own harrowing experience of sexual harassment, involving unwanted touching by a male colleague. The discussion concluded with a statement to share at every workplace: ‘If you are sexually harassing someone, you are violating their dignity as a human being. Ask yourself, is this the kind of person you want to be? If your answer is NO, then let’s break our silence. Say NO to Sexual Harassment. Stop Sexual Harassment in the workplace, in our union, and all public places.’

Training to build women worker’s power

With Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s support, NUBCW is helping women build their power within the construction industry. One of their key initiatives is the development of ‘training the trainer’ courses that emphasise the value of women’s work.

The union also conducts training for women worker leaders who will establish site-level gender training sessions. Additionally, the project aims to negotiate at least three Collective Bargaining, Memorandum of Agreement provisions, or workplace policies that address the specific needs of women workers in the construction sector.

Become a Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA monthly donor and support women’s workers’ rights in many countries.

Join at apheda.org.au.

* The worker’s name has been changed to protect their identity.

NUBCW members commemorating International Women’s Day, 2024.