Philippines (The Republic of the)

Document | 31 October 2008

The Philippines joined the ILO in 1948, two years after gaining independence. Since then the country has been a strong supporter of ILO policies and programmes and has ratified 33 ILO conventions, including all eight fundamental conventions. Thanks to a strong partnership between its Government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, the Philippines became the first country in Asia to participate in a pilot programme on decent work.

ILO priorities in the Philippines for 2008-2009 include:

Promoting decent jobs through local development.

Improving the capacity of national and local institutions and social partners to develop and implement policies and programmes, with a focus on job-rich growth, productive employment and poverty reduction
particularly for young women and men.
Better decent work opportunities for the disadvantaged.

Improved labour market governance.

Creating a better legal framework through meaningful social dialogue
Improving compliance with international and national labour standards

Strong, representative, employers' and workers' organizations that influence economic, social and governance policies.

Strengthening the institutional capacity of employers' organizations
Strengthening the institutional capacity of workers' organizations
Increasing the capacity of employers' and workers' organizations to play an effective role in developing social and labour policies.

The ILO Subregional Office for South-East Asia and the Pacific, based in Manila, was established in 2000. As well as overseeing work in the Philippines, the office provides advisory services and technical assistance to countries throughout the subregion, with the support of the ILO Area Offices in Indonesia and Fiji.