Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) - Philippines (Ratification: 2019)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report.

Article 2(3) of the Convention. Measures that could be taken, in consultation with social partners, to ratify relevant occupational safety and health (OSH) Conventions of the ILO. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) and its sector-level and regional-level counterparts have been established, and that they meet regularly to discuss OSH issues, including the compliance of national OSH regulations with international standards. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the periodic consideration of measures that could be taken to ratify relevant OSH Conventions, including by indicating whether those matters are discussed by the TIPC.

Article 4(1). Periodic review of the national OSH system. Consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the national OSH system consists of laws, regulations, practices and cooperative arrangements that are reviewed, enhanced and evaluated by key players, including the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE), employers’ and workers’ organizations, practitioners and other governmental agencies. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the process through which national laws and regulations on OSH are reviewed, including by indicating the intervals of the reviews, and how the most representative employers’ and workers’ organizations are consulted during such reviews.

Article 4(3)(h). Support mechanisms for progressive improvement of OSH conditions in microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the informal economy. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the OSH Centre of the DOLE has a flagship programme, the “Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan” (Safety and Health Awards). One objective of this programme is the promotion of OSH innovations, improvements and initiatives in microenterprises and in the informal economy. The Committee also notes that, pursuant to section 30 of the Republic Act No. 11058 of 2017 on Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof (Republic Act No. 11058), the DOLE shall develop core compliance standards specific to microenterprises and SMEs to ensure safe and healthy workplaces. According to statistics published in January 2022 by the Philippines Statistics Authority, microenterprises account for 90.5 per cent of establishments in operation in the country. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the development of any core compliance standards onmicroenterprises and SMEs adopted pursuant to section 30 of the Republic Act No. 11058.

Article 5. National OSH programme. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding different programmes and activities run by the OSH Centre of the DOLE, including its “Vision One Million” programme, which aims to develop OSH champions from all sectors and increase recognition and respect for OSH, and which is anchored in the Philippines Development Plan 2017-22. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that there are OSH components in the DOLE’s annual plan 2021, under which the OSH Centre commits to support policies, programmes and the OSH system with studies and research, and to improve awareness and capacity on the subject through training and other technical services. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the manner in which a national OSH programme is formulated and reviewed on the basis of analysis of the national situation regarding OSH. It also requests the Government to provide further information on the process for formulating, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and periodically reviewing the OSH component in the DOLE’s annual plans, and on the consultations undertaken with social partners in this process. Lastly, the Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the DOLE’s most recent annual plan.