Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Philippines (Ratification: 1953)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Government indicates in its report that the institutionalization of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), which aims to enhance the efficiency of its services under the auspices of the relevant Local Government Unit (LGU), including its provision of financial support, permanent staff and basic infrastructure, has been carried out. It also indicates that the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) has developed a guide for the LGU, PESO managers and Local Chief Executives, in collaboration with the ILO and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund Joint Programme on Alternatives to Migration: Decent Jobs for Filipino Youth. The Committee notes that an amendment bill to the Republic Act No. 8759, known as the Public Employment Service Office Act of 1999, which is designed to reform the public employment service including the institutionalization of the PESO and establishment of a labour market information infrastructure at the local level, has been under deliberation since 2013. It also notes the activities of the PESO during the period between 2010 and 2013, which show that the number of job vacancies has steadily increased from about 2,500,000 to 3,800,000, the number of job applicants rose from about 1,600,000 to 1,900,000, and the number of the applicants placed has also increased from around 880,000 to 1,300,000. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information, including relevant statistical data, on the contribution of the PESO to the achievement and maintenance of full employment. Please also provide information on the operation and organization of the PESO.

Articles 4 and 5. Consultation with the social partners. The Government indicates that the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) adopted Resolution No. 14 on endorsing the amendment bill to the Public Employment Service Office Act in December 2013. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the composition and activities of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the replies provided by the Government to its 2005 direct request in a report received in November 2009. The Government describes the initiatives taken by the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) to provide employment options to jobseekers (jobs fairs, wage employment facilitation services, entrepreneurial services). From 2001 to 2009, the PESO registered
about 8,500,000 job applicants throughout the country and placed around 5,600,000 workers. The Government also reports that one of the common problems among the PESO are the frequent changes in its personnel which included the PESO manager, who is usually appointed by the local government executives. The Committee refers to its 2009 observation on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and invites the Government to indicate in its next report the contribution of the PESO to achieve and maintain full employment (Article 1(1) of Convention No. 88). It would welcome receiving information on the contribution made by the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) or any other tripartite framework to formulate recommendations on the matters related to the public employment service (Articles 4 and 5). Please also include updated information on the operation and organization of PESO and the statistical data required under Parts III and IV of the report form.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

1. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee takes note of the information contained in the Government’s report received in September 2004. The Committee notes with interest that job fairs are usually held in strategic geographical areas throughout the country to match the respective manpower resources found in a particular locality with the job vacancies of the participating employers and recruitment agencies. For the period January-June 2004, a total of 8,971 applicants were placed as a result of the job fairs. The Committee also notes with interest the Government’s Internet-based job search service called Phil-Jobnet. Phil-Jobnet provides jobseekers with easy access to employment services including applying online for available jobs. With reference to the measures for temporary workers, the Government provides statistics in this regard for the period January-June 2004 and indicates that it falls under the Public Employment Service Office’s (PESO) special programmes from which displaced workers are assisted through job realignment, facilitation by wage employment or assisted in temporary livelihood assistance. The Committee refers to its 2005 observation on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and requests the Government to continue to provide information on the manner in which the PESO carries out its essential task, ensuring, in accordance with Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention, the best possible organization of the employment market for the achievement and maintenance of full employment and for the development and use of productive resources.

2. Cooperation of the social partners. With reference to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) conducts consultation meetings with various local governments, labour and employer groups on matters concerning employment service programmes. The Committee takes note of this information and asks the Government to keep it informed of progress on the adoption of the Bill to amend the Labour Code as well as details on the role and functioning of the upcoming national tripartite advisory committee on employment service (Articles 5 and 6).

3. Administration and funding (Part III of the report form). The Government indicates that the PESO has been institutionalized through the adoption and coming into force in 2000 of Act No. 8759. Most of the PESOs are funded by the local government units and the national government cannot upgrade the functions of the PESOs to become fully operational due to insufficient funds. The Committee takes note of this information and asks the Government to keep informing it of difficulties encountered in this regard.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes with interest the information contained in the Government's report in reply to its previous comments. In addition, it would appreciate receiving further information on the following points.

Articles 5 and 6. The Government states in a general reply that it plans to amend the Labour Code to provide a national tripartite advisory committee on employment service, in addition to the already existing national employment service. The Committee would appreciate further details on whether this advisory council was established and, if so, how the advisory committee works in practice, in particular, how its views are taken into consideration by the national employment service. The Committee also notes the establishment of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC), and has reviewed a copy of the decree establishing it which the Government had enclosed. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on the TIPC's functions specifically relating to employment services.

Article 6. The Government states that effective recruitment and placement takes place via Job Fairs to facilitate matching and a computerized job search service called Phil-Jobnet User's Orientations. The Committee notes this information and the overall statistics provided. The Committee requests further details on Article 6(b)(i) and (ii) on measures to facilitate occupational and geographic mobility and Article 6(b)(iii) on measures to facilitate temporary transfers of workers.

Administration and funding. The Government states that various bills have been submitted on institutionalization of the PESO programme, and that the PESO offices will be locally funded. The Committee asks to be kept informed of progress on the adoption of the Bill, the status of the PESO, and whether difficulties in funding remain, as requested in Part III of the report form.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. The Committee notes that, in the Social Reform Council, certain categories of people (farmers, workers in the informal sector, people with disabilities, youth, senior citizens, etc.) as well as non-governmental organizations, are consulted on social assistance programmes for which, according to the Government, the PESOs will be responsible. Nevertheless, according to the information supplied by the Government, the Committee is bound to note that the advisory committees provided for in the Convention have still not been established. It once again requests the Government to adopt appropriate measures to ensure cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy, and to provide in its next report information on any progress. The Committee hopes that the Government will also be in a position to give indications concerning the measures taken to overcome the administrative and financial difficulties encountered by the PESOs and on the practical application of Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

With reference to its previous observation, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government. In particular, it notes that the development of the Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) is continuing.

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. The Committee notes that, in the Social Reform Council, certain categories of people (farmers, workers in the informal sector, people with disabilities, youth, senior citizens, etc.) as well as non-governmental organizations, are consulted on social assistance programmes for which, according to the Government, the PESOs will be responsible. Nevertheless, according to the information supplied by the Government, the Committee is bound to note that the advisory committees provided for in the Convention have still not been established. It once again requests the Government to adopt appropriate measures to ensure cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy, and to provide in its next report information on any progress.

The Committee hopes that the Government will also be in a position to give indications concerning the measures taken to overcome the administrative and financial difficulties encountered by the PESOs and on the practical application of Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

With reference to its earlier comments, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report. It notes in particular the detailed information on the implementation of the Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) Programme at the central, regional and local levels, and on the practical functioning of PESOs, including statistics.

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. The Government indicates that the PESOs are run by local government units and a number of non-government organizations. It also refers to various tripartite councils at the regional and national levels which provide advisory services to local government units and other government agencies. The Government states, however, that no advisory committees provided for in these Articles have been created in the country. The Committee therefore urges the Government to adopt appropriate measures in order to give effect to the provisions of Article 4, paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, according to which (paragraph 1) "suitable arrangements shall be made through advisory committees for the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy"; (paragraph 2) "these arrangements shall provide for one or more national advisory committees and where necessary for regional and local committees"; (paragraph 3) "the representatives of employers and workers on these committees shall be appointed in equal numbers after consultation with representative organizations of employers and workers". The Committee also urges adoption of appropriate measures to give effect to the provisions of Article 5 which stipulates that "the general policy of the employment service in regard to referral of workers to available employment shall be developed after consultation of representatives of employers and workers through the advisory committees provided for in Article 4".

The Committee trusts that such measures will be adopted by the Government in the very near future and asks the Government to provide, in its next report, information on any progress made in this regard.

REQUESTS The Government is asked to report in detail in 1996. #REPORT_DATE:00:00:1996

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments. It notes in particular the establishment of 75 public employment service offices (PESOs) located in different parts of the country. The Government indicates that the PESOs have been established in coordination with the local government units and non-governmental organizations, including labour and employer organizations. While noting this information, the Committee would like to draw the Government's attention once again to the provisions of Article 4, paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, according to which "suitable arrangements shall be made through advisory committees for the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy"; "these arrangements shall provide for one or more national advisory committees and where necessary for regional and local committees"; "the representatives of employers and workers on these committees shall be appointed in equal numbers after consultation with representative organizations of employers and workers". Further, Article 5 stipulates that "the general policy of the employment service in regard to referral of workers to available employment shall be developed after consultation of representatives of employers and workers through the advisory committees provided for in Article 4".

The Committee therefore reiterates its hope that the Government will adopt appropriate measures in the very near future in order to give effect to the provisions of these Articles and asks the Government to provide, in its next report, information on progress made in this regard.

[The Government is asked to report in detail for the period ending 30 June 1994.]

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the advisory committees on the employment service have not been officially organised. With reference to its comments over many years on the same subject, the Committee would like to recall that these Articles of the Convention require the setting up of national, and where necessary regional and local, advisory committees ensuring the co-operation of employers' and workers' representatives, appointed in equal numbers, in the organisation and operation of the employment service and in the development of the general policy of this service. The Committee trusts that the Government will not fail to adopt necessary measures in order to give effect to the provisions of these Articles and requests the Government to report any progress made in this connection.