Enough is Enough! Workers’ Struggle is Our Struggle

 

The Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) stands in support of workers at Nexperia Philippines. Their fight is not just about wages. It is about dignity, justice, and the fundamental right to organise. Nexparia’s blatant union-busting, exploitative labour practices and violent intimidation tactics are part of a broader global pattern of corporate greed and suppression of workers’ rights.

 

On March 5, while women across Asia and the Pacific region are welcoming the commemoration of International Women’s Day, women workers in the Nexperia Philippines Inc. Workers Union – NAFLU—KMU (NPIWU-NAFLU-KMU) commenced their strike after enduring a year-long standoff in negotiations for their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Despite 21 negotiation sessions and three conciliation hearings, Nexperia refuses to meet the union’s demands for a reasonable wage of  ₱50 ($0.87) daily wage increase and fair benefits, instead offering a meagre ₱17 ($0.30) – a disgraceful proposal given that these workers produce seven million microchips daily for global brands like Apple and Samsung. Nexperia’s relentless cost-cutting measures demonstrate a blatant disregard for its workers.

 

Production has come to a halt as workers stand firm at their strike. Rather than negotiating in good faith,  Nexperia’s management has responded by cutting off their water and electricity supply and closing the canteen, the sole food source for those barricaded inside the factory. Despite these violent tactics, Nexperia workers, many of them women,  remain steadfast and actively increase their presence in a vigil outside the industrial park.

 

Nexperia’s oppressive tactics are not new. In December 2024, tensions rose as four union officials from the NPIWU-NAFLU-KMU were unfairly terminated for alleged “obstruction” during member briefings, indicating bad faith by management. This comes after nearly 600 job cuts and deteriorating working conditions, with stagnant pay and anti-union tactics. An overwhelming 80% of Nexperia’s 1,800 workers advocate for fair wages and job security. Nexperia’s claims of “low production volume” are contradicted by evidence of increased quotas and new clients. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has further enabled this corporate abuse by invoking Assumption of Jurisdiction, limiting workers’ right to strike, and essentially siding with corporate interests over labour rights.

 

Nexperia’s actions reflect aggressive union-busting strategies, contradicting its stated ethical standards, despite being a key manufacturer for major clients like Apple and Samsung, highlighting the importance of its workforce in global supply chains. In fact, Nexperia’s tactics have followed a deeply violent and oppressive tradition – in 2021, military personnel in full combat gear had violently raided the homes of more than 100 workers, attempting to intimidate and compel them to leave the Nexperia Workers’ Union. 

 

The fight continues, and we recognise that women workers can thrive through strong unity among all workers! We wholeheartedly support the workers at Nexperia. Their fight represents a struggle against the global forces that aim to fragment and take advantage of workers for the benefit of corporations. Their battle is also ours, and we must unite to oppose the corporate greed that affects us all.

  1. We demand an immediate end to union busting and a wave of layoffs; Nexperia is required to respect fundamental labour rights, including workers’ right to organise and their freedom of association.
  2. We demand a ₱50 daily wage increase, full respect for workers’ collective bargaining rights, and immediate reinstatement of all unfairly dismissed union officials. This encompasses the responsibility to provide a remedy in situations where women workers have experienced adverse effects from corporations’ profit-driven actions.
  3. We condemn DOLE’s assumption of jurisdiction order and Nexperia’s blatant labour rights violations and union-busting practices. DOLE must ensure that Nexperia reinstates the unfairly laid-off union officials, upholds trade union rights, and engages in genuine negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. 
  4. We call on the Philippine government to implement ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and ILO Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining. The Philippine Government should elevate the Guidelines on Freedom of Association and stop labeling trade union movements, referred to as “red-tagging”, which persists.
  5. We request that the ILO consistently and constantly promote fundamental labour rights, create social dialogue by strengthening unions’ voices and positions and monitor the implementation of conventions Nos. 87 and 98.

Enough is enough! We will not be silent while corporations profit off exploitation!