UNI Global Union urges speaker Romualdez to transmit BHW Magna Carta: Act Now!

UNI Global Union Urges Speaker Romualdez to Transmit BHW Magna Carta: The Time to Act is Now

“As the global voice of over 20 million workers in the service sectors, UNI Global Union stands in unwavering solidarity with the more than 200,000 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) across the Philippines—frontliners who serve as the foundation of community health care in every barangay of the nation,” said Alan Sable, Head for Care at UNI Global Union and Rajendra Acharya, Regional Secretary of UNI Global Union Asia & Pacific. “We are deeply alarmed to learn that the long-awaited BHW Magna Carta, a historic bill that would bring dignity, legal recognition, and vital protections to these essential workers, is now at risk of stalling in the House of Representatives.

We call on House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to act with courage and urgency by signing and transmitting the BHW Magna Carta to the Senate without delay. Every day that this bill is held back is another day of injustice for the workers who hold together the very fabric of public health in the Philippines.

For decades, BHWs—predominantly women—have provided tireless, life-saving care in their communities with little to no compensation, recognition, or security. They were hailed as heroes during the pandemic, but remain invisible in the law. This must change.

The passage of the BHW Magna Carta is not only a matter of national importance—it is a matter of global significance. The world is watching. Recognizing BHWs’ rights is aligned with international labour standards and the Philippines’ commitment to universal health care and gender equity.

Speaker Romualdez, you have the power to deliver justice to hundreds of thousands of Filipino workers. The health of the nation—and the integrity of its democracy—depends on how we treat those who serve the most.

Transmit the BHW Magna Carta now. Let history remember this moment as one where you stood with care workers and the Barangay communities they care for.”