Kabuhayan, Kababaihan, Karapatan: A Study on the Experiences of Women Workers with Human Rights Due Diligence Procedures Practiced by Businesses in the Cavite Economic Zone

Abstract

Amidst the export-oriented industrialization in the Philippines, ecozones become hosts to lowered labor standards. This study aims to answer two research questions. The first is to identify the Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) procedures practiced by businesses in the Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ), and the second is to determine the effects of the observance or nonobservance of these procedures on women workers in the ecozone. This qualitative study utilizes a phenomenological research design to magnify and underscore the lived experiences of women workers in the CEZ. In generating findings for this study, six participants are selected through a mix of purposive and snowball sampling. The data are collected through the conduct of semi-structured dyadic interviews and are then processed using thematic analysis. One of the main HRDD procedures that emerged is centered on occupational safety, which encompasses the utilization of safety instructions, personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency management plans. The provision of grievance mechanisms also comes into view, with particular emphasis on various avenues and data confidentiality. Lastly, multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs)—including internal measures and external mediation—are also revealed. The observance of these HRDD procedures affects women workers in a way that signals reduced risks in the workplace and also provides them with a sense of added security leading to heightened productivity. Finally, the nonobservance of these HRDD procedures translates into neglected welfare, which renders women workers in the CEZ to function in survival mode. Drawing from the findings, the study recommends that companies fulfill their responsibilities of upholding HRDD. It also urges the State to ensure the effective implementation of labor laws and the strengthening of domestic industries. Ultimately, it calls on the general public to rally behind Filipino workers in advancing their rights. Future researches, meanwhile, are encouraged to investigate the experiences of women workers in various ecozones across the country.