Manila, Philippines, 27 February 2025 — For decades, waste workers have kept Philippine cities clean, yet their labor remains invisible, their rights ignored, and their welfare neglected. Now, they are making their voices heard where it matters most—bringing their fight to the halls of power. The Philippine National Waste Workers Alliance (PNWWA) is taking its call for justice and recognition to the Senate and House of Representatives, demanding urgent legislative action to protect and uplift the country’s waste workers.
Established in February 2024, PNWWA brings together 12 waste worker organizations, representing over a thousand members nationwide,. The alliance is at the forefront of the push for legislative measures to safeguard the rights, dignity, and livelihoods of waste workers and pickers across the Philippines.
In a recent series of engagements, PNWWA, alongside Mother Earth Foundation and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific, visited the offices of 22 senators to press for the effective implementation of the Magna Carta of Waste Workers. The Magna Carta, prepared by waste workers and for waste workers, underscores the urgent need for fair wages, social protection, and improved working conditions, highlighting the indispensable role of waste workers in environmental sustainability and waste management. It was filed by Senator Loren Legarda as Senate Bill 2636 in April 2024 and is currently pending at the committee level. The waste worker leaders also met with the legislative staff of Senator Pia Cayetano, who acknowledged these pressing concerns and expressed a willingness to collaborate on strengthening policies for waste workers.
PNWWA also visited the House of Representatives, engaging with key legislators to push for the formal recognition of waste workers in national policies. Among the offices visited was the Kabataan Partylist, a Committee on Labor and Employment member, which has historically supported labor rights and progressive policies. The alliance is urging lawmakers to prioritize their inclusion in labor protections, ensuring that the people who keep communities clean and contribute to the country’s circular economy are no longer left behind.
Despite their critical role in waste management and environmental conservation, many waste workers continue to endure hazardous conditions, substandard wages, and a lack of government support. PNWWA seeks to dismantle these systemic injustices by advocating for:
- Policy Advocacy – Working with lawmakers to secure legal recognition, fair wages, and labor protections for waste workers.
- Capacity Building – Providing education, training, and financial programs to enhance workers’ economic opportunities.
- Health & Safety Protections – Ensuring access to healthcare, proper safety standards, and protective measures in their workplaces.
- Public Awareness & Mobilization – Elevating the visibility of waste workers’ contributions and rallying support for their rights.
“Naniniwala kami dahil sa batas na aming isusulong kami ay kanilang tutulungan para sa aming mga karapatan, bigyan ng hustisya para sa serbisyo, kilalanin at ituring na tao na may puso na nasasaktan. Kami ay nagkakaisa sa aming layunin at adhikain nawa’y kami ay kanilang pakinggan hindi madali ang aming trabaho, kung wala kami paano na bansa natin. May dagat o ilog pa bang malalanguyan, malinis na hangin pa bang lalanghapin. Bigyan kami ng alaga dahil kami ay mahalaga,” said PNWWA founding president Aloja Santos.
[Translation: “We believe that through the law we are advocating for, they will help us uphold our rights, provide justice for our service, and recognize us as human beings with hearts that can be hurt. We stand united in our mission and aspirations—may they listen to us. Our work is not easy, and without us, what will happen to our country? Will there still be seas or rivers to swim in? Will there still be clean air to breathe? Take care of us because we are important.”]
PNWWA Vice President Welma Fernandez also emphasized the necessity of their demands, stating, “Hindi luho ang aming hinihingi, kundi ang aming mga karapatan at mga pangangailangan.”
[Translation: “We are not asking for luxury, but for our rights and our needs.”]
Mother Earth Foundation and GAIA Asia Pacific echoed the call, stressing that proper implementation of waste management laws must include the just treatment of those who work on the frontlines of waste collection and recycling. They urged policymakers to prioritize waste workers’ inclusion in decision-making processes and secure their access to government programs and support systems. The organizations also reaffirmed its commitment to push for meaningful legislative action that upholds the dignity and welfare of waste workers across the country.
Rap Villavicencio, Mother Earth Foundation’s Deputy Director for Programs emphasizes, “Waste workers are the unsung heroes of our communities, tirelessly keeping our cities clean while their hard work often goes unnoticed. They deserve to be recognized not just for their labor, but for their contribution to global sustainability and help mitigate climate change. Through PNWWA, we are standing together to demand fair treatment, safe working conditions, and a voice in the policies that affect our lives. Let’s acknowledge their sacrifices, support the passage of Magna Carta for Waste Workers, and the vital role they play in creating a healthier, more zero waste Philippines.”
“While waste workers keep our communities clean, it is unfortunate that they have to demand protections that should have been theirs long ago. The Magna Carta for Waste Workers is a necessary step toward ensuring fair wages, social security, and basic workplace safety. Without it, waste workers remain trapped in dangerous, low-paying conditions, despite their crucial role in keeping our cities livable and our environment sustainable. We need lawmakers to act now—because every day of delay is another day of injustice.”, Froilan Grate, Regional Coordinator of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific, mentioned.
PNWWA calls on government agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and the public to stand with waste in their fight for dignity, fairness, and justice. It is time to move beyond token recognition and translate words into action—because a just society does not discard the very people who sustain it.
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Media Contacts:
Philippine National Waste Workers Alliance (PNWWA): Aloja Santos, President | +63 9066593323
Mother Earth Foundation (MEF): Khrisna Nañola, Communication Officer | +63 9953114273 | khrisnan.mef@gmail.com
GAIA Asia Pacific: Robi Kate Miranda, Communications Officer for Campaigns | +63 9275854157 | robi@no-burn.org
About PNWWA: PHILIPPINE NATIONAL WASTE WORKERS ALLIANCE (PNWWA) is an alliance composed of 12 waste workers groups representing over a thousand waste workers across the Philippines. Established in February 2024, the Alliance is working for the recognition and protection of their rights and welfare.
About MEF: MOTHER EARTH FOUNDATION PH is a non-stock, non-profit organization actively engaged in addressing waste and toxic pollution, climate change, and other health and environmental justice issues. It is best known for its advocacy of Zero Waste through the systematic reduction and proper management of waste.
About GAIA: GAIA is a network of grassroots groups and national and regional alliances representing more than 1000 organizations from 92 countries. With our work, we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, zero-waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped. www.no-burn.org
