Decent Work Country Programme

The Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) has been established as the main vehicle for delivery of ILO support to the Philippines.

The ILO is in the process of formulating the Decent Work Country Programme to align with priorities established in the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan (PLEP). Part of the process involves support to update the PLEP covering the period 2017-2022.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), with the support of the ILO, has initiated a process starting February 2016, which involved tripartite, social partners and other relevant government agencies to review the results thus far achieved and provide inputs to the PLEP covering the next cycle, 2017-2022. The updating process took into account key developments at the national and international arena, which included issues related to the Future of Work, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the country’s international commitments including highlights of observations of ILO’s supervisory bodies on Conventions ratified by the Philippines. The presentation on the SDGs highlighted Goal 8 which aims to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” and decent work elements in other Goals.

Future of Work discussions in the Philippines were discussed in the context of the LEP updating process. The Island-wide consultations covering Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao labour/workers representatives from these regions produced a Labor Agenda adopted by the workers on 30 April 2016.

On 30 June 2016, outgoing DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz presented to incoming Secretary Silvestre Bello III a Progress Report on the ongoing process towards developing the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan (LEP), 2017-2022. This document consolidates strategic directions for labor and employment in the medium term.

In the meantime, the current Decent Work Country Programme Outcomes (CPOs) of ILO for the Philippines supports the country’s Labor Employment Plan, 2011-2016 (LEP). The LEP embodies the priorities and commitments that the tripartite partners – government, workers and employers’ organizations – agreed to pursue according to the four pillars of decent work.

The DWCP Outcomes sets out two major priorities (1) Decent Jobs for a Competitive Philippines, and (2) Improved Labour Market Governance. To help realize these, the Office will help strengthen the institutional capacity of workers and employers’ organizations as well as the overall capacity of the country ratify and apply international labour Conventions.

The Decent Work framework is established as one of the priority outcomes UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), serving as a vehicle to elevate the priorities of the tripartite partners in the UN System and the overall national development frameworks.

See also