Even during the second year of implementation, the project management was well aware that the capability of other regions not covered by the UNDP sponsored project would pave the way for the institutionalization process. The leadership of the Department, convinced of the potential of the WISE approach as a productivity tool entered the nationwide replication of WISE as one of the flagship projects of the DOLE under the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) - Integrated Productivity Improvement Program of the government. Projects implemented under the program should be able to offer safety nets and enhance the competitiveness of sectors that could be affected by recent global economic trends. The Philippine government pooled in financial resources for allocation to the different projects. Although WISE got only minimal funding for this purpose, nevertheless, the replication program was implemented nationwide.
In recent times, the partners have taken the move towards integrating the WISE approach into their regular programs. Major employers' groups have coordinated with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on possibilities of joint activities. Eventually, they are expected to conduct WISE-related activities on their own. Implementation of WISE trainings is among the priorities of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), a group of big exporter firms in the country. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the biggest umbrella organization of trade unions in the Philippines, on the other hand, has implemented a similar approach called POSITIVE (Participation Oriented Safety Improvement by Trade Union Initiative Program) sponsored by the Japan International Labour Foundation.
The project management has intensified efforts in expanding the coverage of WISE on all feasible directions in terms of technical content, target industries, target areas and collaboration with organizations. The latter has emerged as one potent field to sustain the implementation of WISE. New partnerships have been formed, for example, between the DOLE and organizations like PHILEXPORT. The project management of WISE expects that more and more organizations will take the initiative to approach DOLE and other implementors and be considered as an active partner in the propagation of WISE.
There is a lot of potential in the role of the labor inspectorate. This has been one of the driving forces of the project even during conceptualization, hence, the labor inspectors were considered as one of the direct recipients of the project. The inspectors have a lot to say in improving the safety and health conditions of workplaces.
WISE has been proven to be a sound complementary approach to inspection. As part of the integration process, advisory inspection using the WISE approach could eventually become part of the labor inspection system. Many labor inspectors are also WISE trainers. A core group of labor inspectors were trained on the advisory inspection approach. In using the approach, the labor inspector, in a consultative manner, will recommend low-cost and practical ways of addressing the deficiencies of the enterprise on occupational safety and health.
The opportunity to widen the international prespective of WISE is very challenging and encouraging. Several international organizations have considered WISE worthy of being presented in international fora. WISE implementation in the Philippines was presented in the following conferences:
For more information on WISE, please contact Labor Standards Research Division, Bureau of Working Conditions, 3/F Department of Labor and Employment Building, Muralla Street, Intramuros, Manila.
Tel: +63.2.527.3473 or +63.2.527.5808 and Fax: +63.2.527.3478.
For further information, please contact the South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (SEAPAT) at
Tel: + 63.2.815.2354 or + 63.2.819.3614 and Fax: + 63.2.812.6143
E-mail:
seapat@ilo.org
Copyright ©1998 International Labour Organization
(ILO)
Disclaimer |
webinfo@ilo.org
Created by SF. Approved by WRB. Last updated on 31 August 1999.