March 5, 2025
Migrante International and its member overseas Filipino organizations around the world stand behind the semiconductor workers of Nexperia as they lay down their picket line and go on strike today, March 5. After a deadlock in their collective bargaining negotiations, the Nexperia Philippines Inc. Workers Union in Laguna are now on strike for the following demands, among others:
- A daily wage increase of Php 50 ($0.87), which the company countered with an insulting increase offer of Php 17 ($0.30);
- The reinstatement of four union officers who were unfairly sacked by management in the middle of negotiations;
- Job security guarantees and an end to the layoffs of hundreds of Nexperia workers over the past few years.
These just demands were denied to them by the company, forcing Nexperia workers to win their second vote to go on strike in a year. Against this unity built by the workers of Nexperia, the Marcos government and its Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) released an Assumption of Jurisdiction (AJ) Order on February 5 to forbid the strike and authorize the AFP-PNP to disperse striking workers. DOLE supposedly put out the AJ order on the grounds that Nexperia is “essential to national interests”.
To us migrant workers, the AJ order against Nexperia workers is a sick delusion. Denying workers’ demands for wages and jobs goes against the interests of the Filipino people. True migrant interests lay with the workers of Nexperia on strike against the same poverty and unemployment that forces thousands of us abroad every day.
In defiance of the Marcos government’s Assumption Order, the workers of Nexperia have put up their picket line and are on strike. Today, we Filipino migrants vow to support our fellow workers back home: we know that the fight for jobs at home begins with the strike of Nexperia workers.
Once again, we call on Filipinos overseas to stand against attempts by the Marcos government and Nexperia Philippines to break the union and its strike. We must unite with the overseas Filipino community to build worldwide support for #NexperiaWorkersOnStrike. Migrante International also enjoins all partners in workers’ and peoples’ solidarity to join our campaign by mounting international pressure against Nexperia B.V. and Wingtech Technology.
Through collective action and the broad support of migrants and workers around the world, the workers of Nexperia Philippines will have the resolve to win this strike and achieve our collective demands to #ReinstateNexperia4 and a living wage and job security for workers everywhere.
Filipinos overseas #StandWithNexperiaWorkers!
