PH to work with US over forced labor probe findings

Malacañang on Monday said the Philippine government is reviewing the US report, which supposedly found issues in the country’s enforcement of a forced labor import prohibition.

In a press conference, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the Philippine government will coordinate with US officials through appropriate channels to show the country’s compliance with labor laws and its condemnation of all forms of forced labor.

“Kinikilala ng tanggapan ng Pangulo ang proposal ng United States Trade Representatives na magpataw ng dagdag na 12.5% na taripa sa ilang produkto ng Pilipinas alinsunod ito sa Section 301 hinggil sa investigation concerning forced labor enforcement,” Castro said.

(The Office of the President recognizes the proposal of the United States Trade Representatives to impose an additional 12.5% tariff on some Philippine products in accordance with Section 301 regarding the investigation concerning forced labor enforcement.)

“Seryosong tinutugunan ng pamahalaan ang usaping ito,” she added.

(The government is taking this matter seriously.)

Castro said this in response to a USTR proposal seeking the imposition of an additional 12.5% duties on goods from countries that have failed to effectively establish safeguards against imports made with forced labor.

The Palace official stressed that the government has a long-standing stance against forced labor and has existing laws in place to address this.

She also expressed belief that the Philippines can defend itself against the findings regarding the country’s lack of safeguards for forced labor-related imports.

“Alam natin, simula’t simula pa lamang, ang mga batas natin at ang pagpapatupad ng mga proseso laban sa forced labor, alam po natin ‘yan at alam din natin. Kamakailan lamang ay mayroong nahuli na isang bar na kung saan kinokondena natin ang forced labor at ang human trafficking,” Castro said.

(From the very beginning, we know our laws and the implementation of processes against forced labor. Recently, a bar was found engaging in forced labor and human trafficking and we condemn such acts.)

“So, kaya po nating ipaglaban na tayo po ay hindi lumalabag sa batas at tayo po ay kumukondena sa forced labor,” she continued.

(So, we can assure that we do not violate the law and we condemn forced labor.)

Asked if President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will send a team to the US for talks with the USTR, Castro said, “‘Yan ang maaaring isagawa at ito ngayon ay sinusuri kung ano ang mga dapat na gawin para mapatunayan natin na wala tayong paglabag sa mga aktibidad patungkol sa forced labor.”

(That could be done. The government is examining the steps that could be done to prove that we did not violate any activities related to forced labor.) —LDF, GMA News