HISTORY

The Workers’ Assistance Center, Inc. (WAC) was launched on November 30, 1995 as a socio-pastoral program of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Rosario, Cavite in response to an initial research study made by the program and other church organizations. The study found that a growing number of workers at the Cavite Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) were denied of their basic welfare and right to organize.

In 1997 WAC transformed into a non-government organization to meet the demands of the growing need to organize workers into unions and other labor associations.

WAC started with three full-time staff members and has expanded to twelve. It has extension offices at Brgy. Manggahan, General Trias, Cavite and in Norgan Apt., Gen. Luna St., Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

To date, WAC has provided various assistance to over 30,000 workers through organizing, labor education and paralegal services with cases mostly involving illegal dismissal, delayed salaries, forced overtime, non-provision of benefits, and non-remittance of Social Security System (SSS) contributions and violations of workers’ democratic and labor rights.