• Atty Payos, Vice-President of the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines,
• ECOP representatives from the national office.
• Distinguished officials and representatives of ECOP from various regions,
• Ladies and gentlemen, good morning to all of you!

It is an honour to welcome you today. Thank you for your presence despite your busy schedule as employers and business leaders.

Today, we are gathered for a consultation in partnership with the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines on the Decent Work Country Programme.

Decent Work Country Programmes have been established as the main framework for ILO support to countries like the Philippines.

In the process of formulating the Decent Work Country Programme, the ILO and tripartite constituents - workers’ and employers’ organizations at national level, and the government agree on the priority areas where efforts will be focused.

ECOP plays a key role as it advocates the needs and priorities of the business community.
Decent Work Country Programmes give employers, like ECOP, the chance to advance their agenda and to have their voices heard in the process.

As part of the initial preparation, the Department of Labor and Employment in partnership with the ILO has completed the Decent Work Country Diagnostics.

The Diagnostics, in which you have a copy, will serve as an analytical document in developing the Decent Work Country Programme. The Diagnostics provides evidence-based analysis on the progress and situation, including challenges to achieve decent work.

ILO constituents – government, workers and employers have formulated and adopted the concept of decent work. Since then, it has gained support and has been endorsed by the international community. Within the Sustainable Development Goals, decent work is a key element to achieve inclusive and economic growth.

By promoting the four Decent Work objectives – employment opportunities, rights at work, social protection and dialogue – employers promote conditions that encourage productivity amongst employees and business. This results in lasting stability and security across all levels and sectors.

Decent work reflects people’s aspirations and future prospects. Decent work in AmBisyon 2040 is a way out of poverty and for Filipinos to enjoy a strongly rooted, comfortable and secure life.

The Philippine Development Plan also envisions the country to become an upper-middle income economy by 2020. Within AmBisyon and the Philippine Development Plan, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has its own eight-point agenda for labour and employment, which are all supportive of decent work and inclusive growth.

The Decent Work Country Programme will contribute to relevant components of the Philippine Development Plan, AmBisyon, DOLE’s labour and employment agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 8 and decent work elements in other goals.

Involvement of employers in the Decent Work Country Programme is an opportunity to bring the vision and contribution of the private sector into national development priorities and frameworks and the SDGs.

Your views and ideas matter as we set priorities and plans as well as map potential links. The theory of change as a tool will be used to link interventions and outcomes to achieve our common goal and desired situation.

As key officials and representatives of employers and businesses in the Philippines, it is also crucial to look into the Future of Work in formulating the Decent Work Country Programme.

The world of work is undergoing a major process of change, which will impact jobs and enterprises. The shift in production will have major implications and an enabling environment for enterprises and businesses to thrive is vital.

These are areas to be taken into account in today’s consultation. As I end, let me thank ECOP for its continued support and commitment to make this consultation possible. Let me also acknowledge
Mr Bitonio for providing his insights and facilitating this workshop. Most of all, thank you for your presence and active participation.

Underlying the ILO’s work is the importance of cooperation between governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations in fostering inclusive and sustained economic growth. Partnerships are a way to implement and to make this happen through decent and productive work.

I look forward to a continued partnership and engagement of employers through ECOP towards building a consensus and realizing decent and productive work for all.

Thank you!