Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2007, publiée 97ème session CIT (2008)

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

1. In reply to the previous observation, the Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report for the period ending in August 2006.

2. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee notes that the Government has adopted a unified policy framework to promote decent and productive employment as a means to alleviate poverty in the country and that this policy has been articulated in the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (2004–10). The Government also stated its aim to generate around 6–10 million jobs. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on how the policy measures included in the Development Plan are implemented within a framework of a coordinated economic and social policy (Article 2(a) of the Convention). Please specify how the four major employment promotion strategies: employment generation, preservation, enhancement and facilitation are being executed and whether special difficulties have been encountered in attaining the objectives of the strategies announced. It further asks the Government to provide information on how the targeted economic growth will produce decent quality jobs, considering the magnitude of the informal economy in the country. 

3. According to the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics of the Department of Labor and Employment, the annual employment growth for 2006 was placed at 2 per cent (648,000 individuals), wage and salary employment rose by 2.9 per cent (474,000 individuals), unpaid family workers by 3.7 per cent (144,000 individuals) and self-employment by 0.2 per cent (29,000 individuals). In 2006, the number of part-time employees grew by 6.3 per cent (735,000 individuals) while the number of full-time employees decreased slightly (0.6 per cent or 131,000 individuals). One of the weaknesses of the labour market is the rise in underemployment in recent years. From 17.6 per cent in 2004, the underemployment rate rose sharply by 3.4 percentage points to reach 21 per cent in 2005. In 2006, it reached a level of 22.7 per cent. Underemployment increased by 682,000 to 7,467,000 individuals. Youth continued to account for the bulk of the unemployed (49.1 per cent). Their unemployment rate at 17.6 per cent was more than twice the national figure. The Committee asks the Government to keep it informed on the impact of the measures taken to provide lasting employment to young workers under the age of 26 years and first-time employment seekers. It would appreciate receiving in the next report updated information on the labour situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment, underemployment and developments in the labour market.

4. Coordination of training policies with employment opportunities. The Committee notes that the Department of Labor and Employment conducted in March 2006 a national manpower summit to identify the required skills and competencies in order to overcome structural unemployment. The Committee asks for further information regarding the follow-up action taken after the summit to ensure that the targeted job generation will be achieved. Please also provide information on the measures taken to coordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

5. Article 3. Participation of social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Committee notes the development of the Decent Work National Plan of Action within the four basic principles of decent work which identified areas of consensus to pursue a common agenda, realign and harmonize areas of employment generation opportunities, elimination of poverty and social protection. The Committee asks the Government to further elaborate in its next report the role that the social partners have had, in particular their role in developing and implementing the Decent Work Agenda concerning employment promotion policies and measures. It also requests information regarding the involvement of representatives of workers of the rural sector and the informal economy in the formulation and implementation of the employment measures.