Haiyan
ILO calls for greater partnership and sustainability in livelihood support following disasters
On 6 August the ILO and its partners will convene to share key lessons, impact, and challenges in placing sustainable livelihood at the forefront of post-disaster relief, recovery, and development.
Manila, Philippines – On 6 August the International Labour Organization (ILO) and its partners will convene to share key lessons, impact, and challenges in placing sustainable livelihood at the forefront of post-disaster relief, recovery, and development.
This culminating event, “Strengthening Partnerships: Livelihood at the Forefront of Recovery following Haiyan,” will offer insights and lessons learned in disaster response to be carried forward in future disaster situations.
“Through decent work and sustainable livelihood programmes, recovery efforts get people back on their feet more effectively, and communities are again moving forward,” said Lawrence Jeff Johnson, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
The ILO mainstreamed better work and life conditions for its workers. Guided by the four pillars of its decent work agenda – promoting jobs, ensuring rights at work, extending social protection, and encouraging social dialogue, with gender equality as a crosscutting objective – the ILO provided Social Security System (SSS) coverage, PhilHealth and accident insurance, occupational safety and health measures, and at least minimum wage rates.
The ILO has worked extensively in the Haiyan-affected areas of Leyte including Tacloban; Samar; Northern Cebu; Bohol; Negros Occidental; and Busuanga and Coron in Palawan to implement the four components of its Haiyan intervention: emergency employment, local resource-based work, skills development, and enterprise development.
Emergency employment in debris clearing, and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of public infrastructure focused on job creation and income generation.
Local resource-based approaches in infrastructure and environmental rehabilitation using labour-based technologies, community contracting, and local partner collaboration helped to support local economic recovery. Improvements included the rehabilitation of schools, health centres, roads, mangrove forests, and irrigation canals.
Skills programmes were designed to enhance the trainee-workers’ employability in existing job markets. Priorities included gender-responsive technical vocational training and follow-up skills matching with potential employers.
Enterprise programmes built the resilience of vulnerable micro- and small-enterprise owners, and assisted potential entrepreneurs in business development and recovery. This played a pivotal role in local economic and social development, and represented a major source of employment.
With support from the Governments of Norway and Japan, the Department for International Development (DFID), and the International Maritime Employers' Council (IMEC), these interventions enhanced income earnings and decent work conditions to support livelihood sustainability in Haiyan-affected communities.
The ILO’s partners in its Haiyan response included the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Philippine Social Security System (SSS), and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Collaboration is critical given that disasters, both natural and manmade, have become deadlier. The Philippines is also the third most disaster prone country in the world. The cooperation among government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and international and local NGOs in contributing to preparedness, relief, recovery, and development is more urgent than ever.
The event is open for media coverage, which will be held on 6 August from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the InterContinental Hotel Grand Ballroom in Makati. Interested journalists are requested to confirm their attendance in advance. The provisional programme is included for reference.
Communication and Public Information Assistant
Emergency Employment and Livelihood Recovery for Haiyan
Tel. No.: +63 2 580 9900 / 580 9954
Email
Minette Rimando
Media and Public Information
ILO Country Office for the Philippines
Tel. No.: +63 2 580 9900 / 580 9905
Email
This culminating event, “Strengthening Partnerships: Livelihood at the Forefront of Recovery following Haiyan,” will offer insights and lessons learned in disaster response to be carried forward in future disaster situations.
“Through decent work and sustainable livelihood programmes, recovery efforts get people back on their feet more effectively, and communities are again moving forward,” said Lawrence Jeff Johnson, Director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.
The ILO mainstreamed better work and life conditions for its workers. Guided by the four pillars of its decent work agenda – promoting jobs, ensuring rights at work, extending social protection, and encouraging social dialogue, with gender equality as a crosscutting objective – the ILO provided Social Security System (SSS) coverage, PhilHealth and accident insurance, occupational safety and health measures, and at least minimum wage rates.
The ILO has worked extensively in the Haiyan-affected areas of Leyte including Tacloban; Samar; Northern Cebu; Bohol; Negros Occidental; and Busuanga and Coron in Palawan to implement the four components of its Haiyan intervention: emergency employment, local resource-based work, skills development, and enterprise development.
Emergency employment in debris clearing, and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of public infrastructure focused on job creation and income generation.
Local resource-based approaches in infrastructure and environmental rehabilitation using labour-based technologies, community contracting, and local partner collaboration helped to support local economic recovery. Improvements included the rehabilitation of schools, health centres, roads, mangrove forests, and irrigation canals.
Skills programmes were designed to enhance the trainee-workers’ employability in existing job markets. Priorities included gender-responsive technical vocational training and follow-up skills matching with potential employers.
Enterprise programmes built the resilience of vulnerable micro- and small-enterprise owners, and assisted potential entrepreneurs in business development and recovery. This played a pivotal role in local economic and social development, and represented a major source of employment.
With support from the Governments of Norway and Japan, the Department for International Development (DFID), and the International Maritime Employers' Council (IMEC), these interventions enhanced income earnings and decent work conditions to support livelihood sustainability in Haiyan-affected communities.
The ILO’s partners in its Haiyan response included the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Philippine Social Security System (SSS), and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
Collaboration is critical given that disasters, both natural and manmade, have become deadlier. The Philippines is also the third most disaster prone country in the world. The cooperation among government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and international and local NGOs in contributing to preparedness, relief, recovery, and development is more urgent than ever.
The event is open for media coverage, which will be held on 6 August from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the InterContinental Hotel Grand Ballroom in Makati. Interested journalists are requested to confirm their attendance in advance. The provisional programme is included for reference.
For further information please contact:
Bernard Julian A. PatiñoCommunication and Public Information Assistant
Emergency Employment and Livelihood Recovery for Haiyan
Tel. No.: +63 2 580 9900 / 580 9954
Minette Rimando
Media and Public Information
ILO Country Office for the Philippines
Tel. No.: +63 2 580 9900 / 580 9905