Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 1995, publiée 83ème session CIT (1996)

Convention (n° 122) sur la politique de l'emploi, 1964 - Philippines (Ratification: 1976)

1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1994 and the information contained in reply to its previous request. Referring also to the data on labour and employment published by the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics, the Committee notes a very low growth in employment during the first two years of implementation of the medium-term National Development Plan (1993-98). The unemployment rate was around 9.3 per cent in 1993 and rose to 9.5 per cent in 1994, while the average underemployment rate for the same years was 21.7 per cent and 21.4 per cent respectively. The Committee notes that these statistics show large seasonal variations in activity rates and unemployment, and that the unemployment rate is nearly double the national average in the region of the national capital, where underemployment is less prevalent. It notes that the sustained growth of the economy during the period has not resulted in a fall in the rates of unemployment and underemployment, even though the stated fundamental objective of the Government's strategy is the attainment of "growth with employment". The Committee would be grateful to receive information on the reasons underlying these developments.

2. The Committee notes that for the Government the principal objectives of its National Employment Plan are the reduction of unemployment and underemployment, the shift of employment from agriculture to industry, including an increase in productive employment in rural areas, the improvement of productivity and income levels, as well as the creation of employment in the formal sector of the economy rather than the informal sector. The Committee has also been informed of the holding in September 1995 of a National Employment Summit in which the social partners participated and with which the ILO was associated. It notes with interest that the objective of the high-level Summit was to seek the agreement of all the parties concerned on the adoption of a Comprehensive Employment Strategy Programme and to secure their support for its implementation over the following three years. Precise programmes of action were agreed upon by the Government and the social partners as a result of this Summit for: the promotion of employment and productivity in the agricultural sector, the promotion of exports, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, the training of workers and the improvement of industrial relations in the industrial and services sectors, the improvement of productivity and terms and conditions of employment in the public sector, the assurance of better quality jobs for emigrants and the provision of effective reintegration programmes on their return. The Committee also notes that ILO support has been requested for the follow-up to the recommendations made by the Summit and to achieve the employment objectives set out in the medium-term Development Plan (1993-98). The Committee requests the Government to supply detailed information in its next report on the implementation of each of the action programmes adopted by the Summit and on the evaluation of their impact on employment, and particularly on the achievement of the objectives of the National Employment Plan, which aims to create 1.3 million jobs per year.

3. The Committee notes the implementation with support from the World Bank of the Industry Capability Building Programme (ICBP), which aims to improve skills in expanding areas of the economy with a view to promoting greater competitiveness. The Committee notes that this programme should reach out to half of the workers concerned. Please supply information on the results achieved through this programme and, more generally, on any new measure adopted to reinforce entry training and further training in coordination with employment prospects.

4. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate how the representatives of persons working in the rural sector and the informal sector are associated in the consultations on employment policy required by Article 3 of the Convention.

5. The Committee notes the information supplied on migration policy in reply to its previous comments. It notes with interest that the Government has taken into account the suggestions contained in this respect in the Employment Policy (Supplementary Provisions) Recommendation, 1984 (No. 169), and that it is seriously examining the possibility of ratifying several international Conventions respecting migrant workers. Please continue to provide information on any developments in this respect, including the impact of migration on the labour market situation.

6. Finally, the Committee notes with interest the adoption, following the ILO interdepartmental project on structural adjustment, of the Social Action Plan embodying a new Structural Adjustment Programme, signed in January 1994 by the social partners. It would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the measures adopted and their impact in relation to the objectives of the Convention. It also requests the Government to continue supplying information on the action taken as a result of the various ILO technical cooperation projects which are under preparation or being implemented in the field of employment (Part V of the report form).