Labor chief: PHL compliant with EU requirements for zero-tariff export scheme

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Wednesday said there is no reason for the European Commission to revoke the tariff exemptions on the country’s exports to the trade bloc.

“We believe we have been compliant with the fundamental requirements and processes for the country to continue enjoying the privileges under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+),” Bello said in a statement.

“We are confident that the European Commission will find no valid and convincing reason to withdraw such privileges,” he said.

In a resolution dated September 17, the EU Parliament called on the EU Commission to temporarily withdraw the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) of the Philippines, citing human rights violations.

Under the GSP+, a mechanism that gives developing countries the privilege of exporting zero-duty merchandise to EU-member states, some of Philippine exports to Europe are benefiting from tariff breaks.

In the case of the Philippines, the GSP+ covers 6,274 locally made products.

The EU grants special incentives to developing countries that ratify 27 core international conventions on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance as well as from the effective implementation thereof.

“We fared well in the country report to the European Commission which provides a scorecard of Philippine compliance with 27 international conventions,” Bello said.

“The country report is an inter-agency effort, where DOLE actively participates in the process of providing updates and factual evidence, particularly on matters pertaining to the observance of labor rights,” he added.

The Labor chief said there is no basis to fear the imminent loss of about 200,000 jobs for our Filipino workers as a result of the possible GSP+ withdrawal.

“To note, the Philippines is the only country in the ASEAN that ratified eight fundamental conventions with respect to labor—Freedom of Association and Protection on the Right to Organize Convention, Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, Forced Labor Convention, Abolition of Forced Labor Convention, Minimum Age Convention, Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention, Equal Remuneration Convention, and Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention,” Bello said.

“Our government is doing its best to comply with all the EU GSP+ requirements in promoting the welfare of workers. Among them are the adoption of measures such as the Occupational Safety and Health Law, Expanded Maternity Benefit Leave, Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment,” he said.

In an earlier statement, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez shrugged off the Parliament's resolution.

Lopez said that the government was so far “able to explain objectively the Philippines side on issues that are raised and we don't see any reason why our GSP+ privilege will be withdrawn.”

On Friday, Malacañang dared the EU Parliament to make good on their threat to revoke the tariff-free status of some Philippine exports.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the country could not do anything should the European Commission heed the call of the European Parliament to slap economic sanctions on the Philippines.

“Our government recorded milestones in protecting and promoting the rights and welfare of our workers both locally and overseas. These are just some of the significant policies in support of the labor rights in the country and we will be relentless in this undertaking,” Bello said. — BM, GMA News