Abstract:
Amidst the export-oriented industrialization in the Philippines, ecozones become hosts to
lowered labor standards. This study aims to answer two research questions. The first is to
identify the Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) procedures practiced by businesses in the
Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ), and the second is to determine the effects of the observance or
nonobservance of these procedures on women workers in the ecozone. This qualitative study
utilizes a phenomenological research design to magnify and underscore the lived experiences of
women workers in the CEZ. In generating findings for this study, six participants are selected
through a mix of purposive and snowball sampling. The data are collected through the conduct of
semi-structured dyadic interviews and are then processed using thematic analysis. One of the
main HRDD procedures that emerged is centered on occupational safety, which encompasses the
utilization of safety instructions, personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency
management plans. The provision of grievance mechanisms also comes into view, with particular
emphasis on various avenues and data confidentiality. Lastly, multi-stakeholder initiatives
(MSIs)—including internal measures and external mediation—are also revealed. The observance
of these HRDD procedures affects women workers in a way that signals reduced risks in the
workplace and also provides them with a sense of added security leading to heightened
productivity. Finally, the nonobservance of these HRDD procedures translates into neglected
welfare, which renders women workers in the CEZ to function in survival mode. Drawing from
the findings, the study recommends that companies fulfill their responsibilities of upholding
HRDD. It also urges the State to ensure the effective implementation of labor laws and the
strengthening of domestic industries. Ultimately, it calls on the general public to rally behind
Filipino workers in advancing their rights. Future researches, meanwhile, are encouraged to
investigate the experiences of women workers in various ecozones across the country.
