Labour group Partido Manggagawa (PM) have condemned alleged interference in union elections by Sports City International in the Mactan Economic Zone in the Philippines. Elections at three Sports City factories - Metrowear, Globalwear and Mactan Apparel - have been temporarily suspended as of 4 January 2021 on the basis of an appeal filed by Sports City to the Labor Secretary.

PM is calling on Sports City to withdraw its appeal and put an end to interference with the union elections process and violations to freedom of association. It has said the mass layoffs and labour disputes in the economic zone, including at Sports City, “are all symptomatic of the epidemic of labor rights violations during the time of covid. Employers are exploiting the covid-19 crisis to bust unions and shift to contract work.”

The Sports City group - which supplies to international brands - employs some 14,000 workers and is the biggest employer at the Mactan Economic Zone. In September 2020, Sports City laid off over 4,000 workers, in a move which was criticised by labour groups. More information and the responses from Sports City and buyers adidas, lululemon and Under Armour can be found here.