A High Level Mission of the International Labour Organization (ILO) will visit the Philippines from 22-29 September 2009 to review matters relating to the application in law and in practice of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention (No. 87), 1948, which the Philippines ratified in 1953.

The Philippines was among 25 cases discussed in 2007 by the International Labour Conference Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) and, following a number of trade union complaints which had been submitted to the ILO’s supervisory bodies, was invited to accept a high level mission. In 2009, the Philippine government accepted the high level mission to identify areas in which the ILO could provide support and technical assistance for effective application of the convention.

The Mission will meet with relevant government agencies, workers’ and employers’ organizations and carry out plant level visits. It will review legislative amendments and house bills pending before Congress as well as legislative gaps to bring national law in line with Convention No. 87.

On legislative issues, the Mission will meet and consult with relevant committees in Congress on steps taken to introduce relevant legislation which the ILO Committee of Experts has observed is not in full conformity with the Convention, such as amendments to the Philippine Labor Code provisions in Articles 234(c), 237(a), 263(g), 264(a), 269, 270 and 272.

The report of the Mission will be made available to the government, employers and workers’ organizations following the mission, prior to the submission of the report to the ILO supervisory bodies. All relevant information, including additional comments, will be brought to the attention of the ILO’s supervisory bodies.

The mission team includes Ms Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director of the ILO International Labour Standards Department, Ms Karen Curtis, Deputy Director of the ILO International Labour Standards Department and responsible for Freedom of Association and Mr Tim de Meyer, International Labour Standards Specialist of the ILO Subregional Office for East Asia.

A press briefing will be held on 30 September 2009, Wednesday at the Davao Conference Room, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, CCP Complex Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City from 11:00am-12:00nn.

For further information please contact:

Minette Rimando
ILO Subregional Office for South-East Asia and the Pacific – Manila
Tel: +632 580 9905 / 580 9900
Email

Sophy Fisher
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific - Bangkok
Tel: +662 288 2482
Email