• Mr Josef Yap, former PIDS President and ILO Consultant for this study;
• Ms Casimiro of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA);
• Our constituents representing government, workers’ and employers’ organizations;
• Ladies and gentlemen, good morning!

Welcome to this tripartite consultation - involving each of you to represent the government, workers and employers organizations - on the draft Philippine study on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Employment Policy.

Thank you so much for your presence and participation. We value your insights, inputs, comments and suggestions to finalize the study.

Full and productive employment and decent work are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development specifically highlighted in Goal 8 and featured in many of the other Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs.

The adoption of the SDGs, in particular SDG8, has placed job creation at the centre of economic policy-making and development plans. It is not just about the level of growth. It is how we achieve growth to create decent work opportunities, to reduce poverty, and to create a more inclusive society.

Systematic follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is required in order to maximize and track progress in its implementation and is expected to "maintain a longer-term orientation, identify achievements, challenges, gaps and critical success factors and support countries in making informed policy choices.”

Most recently, tripartite constituents adopted the historic ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work. The adoption marked the 100th anniversary of the ILO and affirmed the commitment of governments, employers and workers - the real ILO, for a human-centred approach to the future of work.

This transpired at a time when transformative changes in the world of work is happening, driven by technological changes, demographic shifts, globalization and climate change to name a few. There are definitely uncertainties and fears on what the future brings and whether these transitions and disruptions will bring more gains or losses in the process. One thing is certain, there will be profound impacts on the nature and future of work, and the place and dignity of people in it.

Under these circumstances, it is imperative to ensure that we act with urgency and grab possible opportunities. We have to address challenges brought about these changes collectively if we are to shape a future of work that works for all through decent work.

A HUMAN-CENTRED approach, as our ILO Regional Director Tomoko Nishimoto highlighted at the Asia Pacific Social Protection Week held a few days ago is a call to put human welfare as the ultimate objective of public policies by investing in people’s capabilities; institutions of work; and decent and sustainable work.

In order to support ILO constituents in their efforts to maximize and track progress on SDG 8, the Employment Department of the ILO in Geneva spearheaded a multi-country research programme to diagnose opportunities and challenges associated with promoting productive employment and to identify policy options towards achieving the SDGs.

Thus, it is very timely to have you all here today. Aside from reviewing the implementation of the SDGs, this is also an opportunity to explore synergies and brainstorm on innovative strategies and policy recommendations towards the achievement of the SDGs.

I hope this study will provide a comprehensive diagnostic of opportunities and challenges associated with promoting full and productive employment, as well as contribute towards developing and updating national employment policies, youth employment strategies and sectoral policies in the country.
I wish you all a productive and successful consultation, and continued collaboration towards a meaningful and successful implementation of the SDGs.

Thank you!