Alliance of Nationalist and Genuine Labor Organization (ANGLO)

ANGLO is a duly registered labour federation of local unions in the Philippines, established in 1984. The organisation provides research, capacity building, legal and para‑legal assistance to unions and workers, specialising in genuine trade unionism, labour standards, union building, administration and leadership training. ANGLO amplifies workers’ calls for living wages, job security, occupational safety and health (OSH) and the right to unionise, and links workplace struggles to broader social justice and national sovereignty campaigns.

ANGLO works in solidarity with other marginalised sectors — including farmers, fisherfolk, the urban poor, women, youth, persons with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ communities — and stands against exploitation by corporations and the state. The federation supports both unionised and non‑unionised workers and builds alliances at local, national and international levels to protect and advance workers’ rights.

Key challenges for ANGLO

ANGLO operates in an environment where occupational safety and health are insufficiently enforced and where pressing economic concerns often overshadow worker awareness of OSH. The principal challenges include:

• Weak compliance with OSH standards: Despite the Philippines’ Occupational Safety and Health Law (2018), many businesses fail to meet minimum OSH requirements. Labour inspection data show low initial compliance rates and frequent violations such as missing first‑aiders, absent safety officers, expired or missing fire safety certificates, a lack of OSH programmes and inadequate training.
• Under‑resourced inspection regime: The country has far too few authorised labour inspectors for the number of establishments, limiting regular monitoring and enforcement.
• Hazardous conditions in the paint and coatings industry: Investigations by the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD) and ANGLO affiliates reveal exposure to extreme heat, dust, noisy machinery, poor ventilation and a wide range of toxic chemicals (for example methanol, acetone, toluene, nitrocellulose and other solvents). These exposures contribute to respiratory problems, dizziness, headaches, skin and eye injuries and long‑term illnesses, including cancers and reproductive health issues.
• Limited hazard awareness and inconsistent PPE use: Many workers have not received adequate orientation on hazardous substances and safe handling, and personal protective equipment usage is incomplete across affected workplaces.
• Worker vulnerability where unions are weak or absent: Non‑unionised workers face greater risk of exploitation and have fewer avenues to claim their rights or demand safer conditions.
• Growing industry scale: Expansion of the paint and construction sectors increases the number of workers exposed to hazards and raises the urgency for scalable OSH interventions.