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

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

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. Employment trends. The Government refers in its report to the April 2015 labour force survey (LFS) showing that the number of employed persons increased by 495,000 to reach 39.15 million, which is an increase of 1.3 per cent over the April 2014 LFS figures of 38.66 million. In April 2015, unemployment decreased to 6.4 per cent from 7 per cent in April 2014, with the number of unemployed persons recorded at 2.681 million compared to 2.924 million the previous year. Underemployment also decreased from 18.2 per cent in April 2014 to 17.8 per cent in April 2015, or from 7.02 million to 6.98 million people. Women’s participation in the labour force slightly decreased from 51.3 per cent in April 2014 to 51 per cent in April 2015. In reply to previous comments, the Committee notes the detailed progress reports for the years 2011–2013 provided by the Government on the implementation of the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan 2011–16. It notes in this regard that the third progress report showed that 1,505,972 job applicants placed through Public Employment Services Offices (4,480,763) and private recruitment and placement agencies (25,209). Referring to the implementation of the Convergent Community-Based Employment Program (CBEP), the Government indicates that from 2011–14, the CBEP benefited 8,603,993 disadvantaged persons, including disaster victims, across the country in terms of short-term jobs. The Committee notes with interest that a significant rise was noted in 2012 with 2,324,311 (up by 87 per cent) from 1,238,225 jobs created in 2011. The jobs created slowed down in 2013 with 1,987,337, but rose again in 2014 with 3,054,120 jobs created. Of the total short-term CBEP jobs, 3,528,577 jobs were generated by infrastructure projects of the Government, while 5,075,416 jobs were created by 74 non infrastructure projects and programmes of 21 government agencies. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the impact and effectiveness of its employment policy measures in terms of productive job creation. Please also continue to include information on the progress made with respect to the implementation of programmes designed to generate employment.

Education and training. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicates that, in order to ensure that the outputs of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes are in line with labour market requirements, the Technical Education and Skills Development Committees (TESDCs) undertake various activities, including the review of TVET policies as applied at the local, regional and provincial levels and provide recommendations. The Committee notes with interest that the employment rate of TVET graduates rose from 60.9 per cent in 2011 to 65.3 per cent in 2013, signifying improvement in the employability of TVET graduates. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the TESDCs. Please also continue to provide information on the impact of the TVET programmes on graduates’ employability.

Youth employment. The Government refers to the results of the April 2015 LFS showing that the number of unemployed persons aged 15 24 years old decreased to 1.350 million (14.9 per cent) from 1.457 million (15.7 per cent) in April 2014. The unemployed youth rate in the April 2013 LFS was 16.8 per cent. The Committee notes the various programmes addressing the problem of youth unemployment, such as the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES); the Youth Entrepreneurship Program; the Government Internship Program; and the JobStart Program, a Department of Labor and Employment, Asian Development Bank and Government of Canada joint programme. The Committee further notes that the SPES aims to assist poor students and not-in-school youth who intend to pursue their education by providing income or augmenting their means through employment. It also provides valuable work experience bridging an individual from school to employment. The total number of SPES student beneficiaries was measured at 691,333 for the period 2010–14. The Government indicates that the increase in beneficiaries may be attributed to the annual increase in the amount of budget allocated for the SPES which is consistent with the Philippines’ commitment of investing on human resource, especially the youth. The objective of the JobStart Program (formerly MyFirstJob Program) is to pilot approaches to enhance the employability of at-risk youth to improve their integration into productive employment. Jobstarters will be given technical training of not more than three months and three months internship wherein they would also receive a stipend amounting to 75 per cent of the prevailing regional minimum wage. It is estimated that the hiring rate of a jobstarter will not fall below 80 per cent upon completion of the program. The Government indicates that a bill has already been drafted to institutionalize the implementation of the program. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the youth employment programmes adopted, by indicating how the beneficiaries of such programmes have transitioned into lasting employment.

Article 3. Consultation with the social partners. The Government recalls that the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council is a consultative and advisory mechanism which functions primarily as a body where the social partners – workers, employers and government – discuss relevant policy issues on labour and employment. The Committee notes the various matters discussed in 2013–14, including rules and regulations on working conditions of seafarers and legislative measures concerning apprenticeship programmes and training of apprentices. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on consultations held with the social partners on the formulation and implementation of employment policies.