Fairwork Project Hosts Visitors from Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
This was among the many questions addressed during a visit to DLSU by faculty and students of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg on February 15. Dr. Boris Michel, professor of Digital Geography of the University’s Institute for Geoscience and Geography, and research associate Michael Keizers led a group of 20 students from both the Bachelor and Master levels to meet with experts from politics, academia and civil society and discuss urban geography and urban development in Metro Manila.
Specifically, they expressed interest in the Social Development Research Center study “Fairwork Philippines: Towards Fair Labor Conditions in the Philippine Platform Economy,” headed by Department of Communication professor Dr. Cheryll Ruth Soriano. The study, now completing its second year, examines whether labor platforms operating in the Philippines facilitate fair labor arrangements for workers and in what ways, while also interrogating the glocal conditions and labor regimes that give rise to them and that surround their future viability. Dr. Soriano was joined by Fairwork project manager Margreta Medina during the presentation on the study.
During the visit, the group was able learn more about urban labor and forms of digital labor through a discussion with members of the National Union of Food Delivery Riders (RIDERS-SENTRO). National Spokesperson John Jay Chan, and organizers Mary Rose Evardone from San Fernando and Mark Larson from Angeles, Pampanga shared their knowledge and experiences in mobilization and organization work, specifically given the numerous challenges faced by platform workers engaged in ride hailing and food delivery platforms such as Grab and Foodpanda across the country. Mr. Chan informed the group that the Union makes use of Fairwork data to inform its members about the Philippine labor situation and the necessity of forming unions to uphold workers’ rights.
The RIDERS-SENTRO members fielded questions involving how they became union organizers, how team leaders are part of the organizing strategy, what the Philippine local Labor Code says about worker representation, how much the platform takes out of what the riders earn, why the notion of unions is stigmatized, what is the danger in organizing unions, and what is done to protect members from harm. Mr. Chan noted the need to enhance knowledge among riders about the rights and create awareness of the benefits of joining labor unions. Crucially, the forum discussed how the broader publics, including customers of platforms and the media, can support the clamor of workers for structural labor reforms that will yield fairer working conditions.
