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Say No to Women and Gender Education in the Workplace
An Executive Summary for Pro-Life, Pro-Family Congressmen
HB 5012 (“Providing Private Workers and Employees Women and Gender Education in the Workplace”) was approved at Second Reading on June 8, 2006. HB 5012 will require all private employers to provide free annual seminars on “women and gender education” to include women’s rights, welfare, development, gender equality, and two laws, RA 7877 on “Anti-Sexual Harassment Act” and RA 9208, the “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.” Its authors are Liza Maza, Joel Virador, Rafael Mariano, Teddy Casino, and Crispin Beltran.
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While the Bill seems benign at the outset, it refers to free annual seminars from employers on “women’s rights” – a catch-all phrase that could include “reproductive rights” – and it imposes financial burdens on top of existing government programs.
Our objections:
1. Training for “Women’s Rights” creates new biases and “reproductive rights.”
Providing “gender education” on women’s rights and gender equality suggests a cultural bias where there is none. It also sneaks in the opportunity to introduce reproductive health programs even if these were not discussed as part of HB 5012. Filipino women, especially the urban and rural workers, are fighting for the basic needs of everyday life – among them, nutrition, security of employment, continuing professional formation, and access to primary health care. They are not asking to understand such terms as “gender sensitivity” or “gender fairness” which are usually part of discussions on “women’s rights.”
HB 5012 should be set aside while the arguments over “reproductive health” are still being debated under HB 3773.
2. Gender education is an unnecessary burden on employers on top of the Department of Labor’s training requirements.
Gender Education and Training in the workplace imposes unnecessary and burdensome financial demands on employers and the private sector. Adult education in the workplace is good, and it was envisioned to enhance employee skills and improve productivity. However, “gender equality”, “reproductive health rights” and similar ideas are a means of adverse cultural reeducation and unnecessary topics for professional formation.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has existing training programs on “priority gender issues” such as the promotion of equality in employment opportunities, advocacy against sexual harassment, protection of the welfare of female overseas workers, and so on. Furthermore, the DOLE also manages the Family Welfare Program under Department Order 56-03 of Dec. 11, 2003, as a means of implementing the family planning services stipulated under Article 34 of the Labor Code of the Philippines. Under this Program, education and gender equality represent one of the ten “family welfare components” for workers in establishments employing at least 200 workers.
Surely the DOLE programs are sufficient to address any perceived gaps on the equality of men and women in the workplace. The Bill is therefore unnecessary.
Prepared by:
ALLiance for the FAMILY Foundation Philippines, Inc. (ALFI)
Unit 206, Southgate Building, Finance Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang,
Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel/Fax: (63-2) 807-6848
E-Mail: allianceforthefamily@gmail.com Website: www. alfi.org.ph
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