Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2003, publiée 92ème session CIT (2004)

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

The Committee notes the detailed information contained in the Government’s report for the period ending August 2002 as its reply in response to its 2001 direct request.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Government indicates that during the period in question despite the difficult economic conditions the employment situation in the Philippines did not deteriorate significantly. In the Government’s opinion, the recovery in the agricultural sector favoured an increase in employment, as did the expansion in the trade sector. It considers that the trends in the rate of unemployment reflect a decreasing rate of underemployment and growth in the country’s labour force. The most recent labour force figures published by the Government show that in July 2003 the unemployment rate was estimated at 12.7 per cent whereas the previous year it was recorded at 11.2 per cent. The unemployment rate for males (11.7 per cent) was lower than that of females (14.3 per cent). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive detailed disaggregated data on labour market trends.

2. The Government states that the promotion of full, productive and freely chosen employment has been pursued through the introduction of new legislation, under the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Act of 1999 (Republic Act No. 8759), which has sought to strengthen and expand the existing employment facilitation service machinery at all levels. The Committee wishes to remain informed of further developments in this respect and on the measures taken to expand the operations of the public employment service and their impact on the labour market. Please also state whether special difficulties have been encountered in attaining the objectives of the PESO Act and how far these difficulties have been overcome.

3. Article 3. The Government indicates tripartism is a declared policy of the State and that social dialogue is widely practised in the Philippines. As regards individual groups of workers, the Government indicates that young people and the disabled are represented in the national councils responsible for addressing the matters pertaining to the training and employment of these groups. Additionally, the social partners have been consulted in the implementation of the youth employment programme labelled "Kabataan 2000". The concern remains, however, that because union density is low in the Philippines and due to the fact that the proportion of workers employed in large industries only constitute about 1 per cent of the total labour force and that it is mainly the representatives of these workers who take part in consultations, the views of other groups of workers such as those working in small and medium-sized enterprises or workers of the informal economy remain less accessible. The Committee asks that the Government keep it informed of activities in this respect and would appreciate receiving further details on the manner in which consultations are held with representatives of employers, workers and other groups, such as rural and informal sector workers, and on the outcome of these consultations.

4. Part V of the report form. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments the Government has submitted the publication "Action Program for Decent Work: Philippines" which describes the overall framework in which ILO assistance for promoting decent work in the Philippines is provided. The Government considers that poverty remains the country’s most serious development challenge and that poverty reduction requires the adoption and consistent implementation of appropriate policies and programmes that promote full, decent and productive employment of workers. The Committee would appreciate receiving, in the Government’s next report, further details on the implementation of this action programme, which is of a nature to facilitate the application of the Convention.