Dialogue on informal sector formalization, social protection and decent work

MANILA (ILO News) - With the goal of extending social protection and decent work to the informal sector, the government, workers and employers organizations, representatives from the informal sector, and key partners convene for the first tripartite plus meeting on integrated formalization.

The meeting is part of consultations for the ILO project, Rise from multiple crises through the integrated formalization of informal economy with social protection and decent work in the Philippines.

The project promotes a comprehensive and integrated approach to formalization, combining measures to facilitate enterprise registration and access to social protection in two pilot areas and three sub-sectors.

The project works closely with the ILO Rebuilding better coconut economy project that will support local governments in Siargao to demonstrate the integrated job-centred recovery model of the ILO for post Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) response and shock-responsive social protection that are integral part of inclusive recovery.

“The COVID-19 crisis and the impact of the super typhoon highlighted the importance of social protection, particularly for the informal sector. The lack of social protection for workers in the informal economy is a challenge for them to make ends meet but also in their aspirations to obtain decent work,” said Khalid Hassan, Director, ILO Country Office for the Philippines (CO-Manila).

Invited to the meeting were experts and specialists from Manila, Bangkok and Geneva who shared their work on formalization of the informal sector.

© Randolph Villanueva/ILO

© Randolph Villanueva/ILO

Hideki Kagohashi, Enterprise Development Specialist of ILO CO-Manila shared about Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy Recommendation, 2015 (No. 204), the ILO support on the formalization of the informal economy to date, and the new focus on the integrated approach to formalization. Markus Ruck Senior Specialist on Social Security in the ILO Regional Office of Asia and the Pacific, presented on the Extension of Social Protection to workers in informal employment. Uma Rani, Senior Economist of the ILO Research Department in Geneva, shared about the role of digital platforms in transforming the world of work.

Joining the Tripartite Plus Meeting were representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, Social Security System, Philhealth, Pagibig, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro), PSI-Link, Women Workers United, Women Business Council and Connected Women.

© Linartes Viloria/ILO

© Linartes Viloria/ILO

“We need to increase our efforts for universal social protection and work closely together to develop inclusive, gender responsive approaches to formalization of the informal sector,” Director Hassan emphasized.

The project supports the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions (GA), where the Philippines is a pathfinder country. It brings together member states, UN agencies, international financial institutions, social partners, civil society and the private sector to help countries create decent jobs and extend social protection coverage to those currently excluded.