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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Philippines (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report for the period ending December 1998. According to the Government, the employment growth rate was 5.9 per cent in 1996 but slowed to 1.9 per cent in 1997 and 0.0 per cent in 1998, due to the effects of the Asian financial crisis and El Niño. Nonetheless, despite these shocks, unemployment decreased substantially from 13.3 per cent in 1997 to 8.9 per cent in 1998. However, youth unemployment remains high at over half of all unemployed. The Committee would appreciate receiving more information on the programmes targeted at further reducing youth unemployment. It also notes that self-employment has continuously risen in recent years, and would appreciate receiving further information on the nature of work of the self-employed and the number registered as self-employed. And the Committee asks for information on long-term unemployment, as requested in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention, pertaining to trends in employment and unemployment.

The Government states that the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) has created a package of interventions for workers displaced as a consequence of El Niño and the financial crisis. The Committee would appreciate receiving details on the various measures and their results.

The Committee notes the Government's description of the various levels in which tripartite consultation on employment policy takes place, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3. It would appreciate being kept informed of the outcomes of these consultations and their results in future reports.