Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Philippines (Ratification: 1953)

Article 4 of the Convention. Ratification requirements for collective agreements in the electricity sector. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the observations from the Center of United and Progressive Workers (SENTRO) denouncing the Philippine National Electrification Administration (NEA) policies for directing electric cooperatives to have their bargaining agreements ratified by entities other than those provided for in the law. The Committee takes due note of the Government’s indication of the steps taken to address this matter through meetings between the Department of Labor and Employment and the NEA and the proposed Memorandum of Agreement which included a regular dialogue to craft joint guidelines government private sector participation to ensure that the rights of employees of electric cooperatives are protected, including as regards collective bargaining. Observing that the finalization of the Memorandum has stalled, the Committee requests the Government to inform in future reports of any progress made in this regard so as to ensure that NEA employees may fully exercise their rights under the Convention. Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the entry into force of collective agreements in the electricity sector requires the prior approval of the labour administration.