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

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

The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1992 and the information which it contains in reply to its previous direct request. According to the data available in the ILO, the unemployment rate has increased in comparison to the previous period and was around 10 per cent during the period in question, with over half of unemployed persons being under 25 years of age. Although declining, underemployment appears to affect around 22 per cent of the active population. The Committee hopes that the next report will, as in the past, contain statistics on the level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment throughout the country and in the various regions, by sector of the economy, sex and age. It also requests the Government to specify the employment objectives of the development plan for the years 1993-1998. Furthermore, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply additional information on the following points:

1. The Committee notes with interest the information concerning the agrarian reform and the number of beneficiaries of transfers of land ownership, as well as the measures taken to promote investment in rural areas. It also notes that the policy to use labour-intensive techniques to carry out infrastructural works should be maintained under the 1993-1998 plan. Please continue to supply detailed information on the various measures taken to promote rural employment, with an indication of the number of new jobs created as a result.

2. The Government refers in its report to workers in small and medium-sized enterprises who have received training subsidized by the National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC). It also states that the NMYC endeavours to plan the development of training according to the needs of enterprises. In view of the existing mismatch between the supply and demand for skills on the labour market, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply further details on the plans and programmes undertaken by the NMYC. With reference to its previous request, it also requests the Government to describe the measures which have been taken or are envisaged to adapt initial training systems more closely to prospective employment opportunities.

3. The Committee notes, from information supplied by the technical departments of the ILO, the significant level of migratory flows among workers. It would be grateful if the Government would supply the information which is available on the effects of migrations on the balance of the labour market, as well as on the policy adopted in this respect as it relates to the employment policy pursued under the terms of the Convention. In this respect, it draws the Government's attention to the relevance of the suggestions contained in Part X "International migration and employment" of Recommendation No. 169 respecting employment policy (the objectives of the policies which should be adopted, the measures which should be taken, for example, to facilitate the voluntary return of nationals who have skills which are difficult to find on the labour market, as well as to ensure the exercise of trade union rights and to prevent abuses in recruitment relating to the exploitation of migrant workers).

4. With regard to the effect given to Article 3 of the Convention, the Government refers to several bodies on which the social partners are represented, although it is not clear whether the formulation of employment policies as set out in the Convention forms part of their functions. The Committee recalls in this respect that the representatives of the persons affected, and in particular representatives of employers and workers, should be consulted both for the formulation of employment policies and their implementation. It also emphasizes that, in view of their significance in the active population, it would be appropriate for the representatives of the rural and informal sectors to be associated in consultations on employment policies. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply full information on the procedures adopted in order to hold the consultations required by this important provision of the Convention.

5. The Committee notes with interest the information concerning the various ILO technical cooperation projects which are being implemented. It requests the Government to continue supplying such information, with an indication of the action taken as a result of these projects (Part V of the report form).