Safety dialogue empowers small-scale banana farmers

The Philippines is renowned for its robust agricultural sector, particularly in the production of high-quality bananas in Mindanao. While the industry is dominated by large corporate growers, small banana growers play a significant role as suppliers to both local and international markets. However, they often encounter various challenges such as limited access to competitive markets, low productivity, informality, price issues, and insufficient support from the government and civil society. All of these affect their capacity to comply with labour standards.

Organized by the Association of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and supported by the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and the ILO Rural Sectors Project, the primary focus of the activity was to raise awareness on various support mechanisms offered by the government. 

The Department of Labor and Employment Office (DOLE) Field Office in Davao del Norte gave an overview on the Department Order (DO) No. 238 including the technical and advisory visit (TAV) guidelines for small businesses to support compliance with labour standards. The TAV guidelines cover general labour standards, OSH, productivity toolbox, child and family welfare programmes, and other DOLE policies and programmes. 

A session was also dedicated to providing information on DOLE’s Labor Advisory No. 08, series of 2023 on Safety and Health Measures to Prevent and Control Heat Stress at Work. With the intensity of extreme weather events and climate change, it is imperative to equip small banana growers with knowledge to reduce risk and mitigate challenges.

On practical measures to mitigate OSH risks, particularly those due to heat exposure, Dr Yuka Ujita, ILO Senior Specialist on OSH, emphasized that workers have the right to a safe and healthy work environment, as stipulated in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW). Dr Ujita also gave practical examples of health and safety hazards in the agriculture sector such as unguarded and heavy machines, biological hazards such as insect bites, slips and trips, among others. Furthermore, she introduced the ILO’s Participatory Action-Oriented Training (PAOT) as an approach for realistic goal setting in achieving ‘good practice’ and self-help stepwise action aiming at low-cost solutions.

The participants were able to explore ‘mini’ PAOT through a workshop where they have identified good points and points for improvement in their workplace to reduce heat-related risks. Good practices identified by the participants included the installation of footbaths, provision of shade houses and comfort rooms, and resting areas where workers can take a break especially during the hottest time of the day. Some of them also identified priority actions such as maternity leaves and childcare benefits specific to women workers. 

Moving forward, it is essential for supply chain compliance to engage smaller stakeholders down the supply and value chains of industries, such as small banana growers, since this is where the most vulnerable workers are. Through collective action and shared responsibility, all workers and key industry players in this sector can thrive and succeed.

The ILO Rural Sectors Project is implemented as part of the Safety + Health for All Flagship Programme and is supported by the United States Department of Labor (US DOL).