One of the oldest labor federations in the country has decided to take part in electoral politics.

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW), headed by lawyer Allan Montano, recently filed a petition for accreditation with the Commission on Election (Comelec).

The group’s goal is to help promote one of its main platforms for government -- decent work for domestic workers, said Montano.

He said the group registered the name “Free Workers,” with the acronym FFW with the Comelec last week.

“As a primary economic driving force, there is a real need for lowly workers to be represented and their voices to be heard in Congress,” Montano said.

“We need representatives that have the capacity and would genuinely represent the interest of workers in the legislature. This role can best be served by the FFW representatives in Congress once given the mandate,” he added.

Montano said that the labor sector has not been truly represented in Congress despite having the most in numbers.

The FFW has been in existence since 1950. It was officially registered and issued a certificate of registration by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in November 19, 1956.

Since its inception, the group has been actively involved in many tripartite bodies in the country, particularly on issues involving labor-management relations.

It has consistently represented workers for more than 50 years now, as part of the Philippine Tripartite Delegation to the International Labor Conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO) held each year in Geneva, Switzerland.

The group also claimed that it has historical ties with the Catholic Church, having been established by a Jesuit priest and a group of idealistic youth almost 60 years ago.