Toda na ‘to! The occupational safety and health of Greenfields 1 Subdivision Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association.

Abstract

Literature on lobbying in general posits more gains if done as group than done individually, but because of voice amplification, not all groups are equal. While literature has much to say about lobbying in the formal sector, the same level of attention has not been paid to the informal sector. In 2017, an estimate of 15.6 million workers or 38% of the country’s total labor force belongs to the informal economy. Despite being a big part of the Philippine, economy, attention to their social protection is not commensurate to their productivity values. This study wants to find out how joining an organization or association, particularly for tricycle drivers, affects their chances of securing social protection, specifically occupational safety and health. Using the case of organized tricycle drivers from Greenfields 1 Subdivision, this research wants to address the gap in the literature by conducting interviews and tracing the process of empowerment afforded to the organization’s members by way of securing OSH. By tracing the role of the association and the weight of its contribution to informal sector empowerment, this study attempts to shine light on the dynamics of informal sector lobbying and the political efficacy of informal workers.