Global Accelerator
Philippines gains ground for decent work, social protection roadmap
National consultation held in August in Manila builds on previous regional dialogues with the transportation, construction and informal sectors to move closer towards finalizing the Global Accelerator roadmap of the Philippines for decent jobs and inclusive social protection.
18 August 2025
MANILA (ILO News) — The Philippine Government, in partnership with the United Nations Philippines, convened the construction and transportation sectors for a national consultation, marking a pivotal step in finalizing the country’s Global Accelerator (GA) on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions Roadmap. Held on 14–15 August 2025 in Manila, the dialogue brought together government agencies, workers’ and employers’ organization to align sectoral priorities with national development frameworks.
As a designated pathfinder country under the UN’s Global Accelerator initiative, the Philippines is leading efforts to promote decent work, inclusive social protection, and just transitions. The two-day consultations gathered key stakeholders from government agencies, workers’ organizations, and employers’ groups to align sectoral priorities with national development goals. These consultations are crucial in shaping a future of work that is inclusive, resilient, and responsive to the evolving needs of Filipino workers.
The consultations form part of a broader UN Joint Programme, supported by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This initiative has already conducted regional consultations in Clark, Cebu, and General Santos City from 10 to 24 June 2025, engaging stakeholders from the construction, transportation, and informal sectors.
Discussions across all consultations highlighted the urgent need for reforms in labour market policies, emphasizing employment facilitation, workers’ protection, and sectoral transformation. Participants shared innovative practices and actionable recommendations to address challenges in decent work and climate-resilient just transitions.
In Luzon, Cooperative Development Authority Director Marietta Hwang and Social Security System Vice President Vilma Agapito stressed the importance of inclusive insurance mechanisms for informal workers. “These mechanisms are foundational to sustainable social protection and decent employment,” Hwang noted.
A construction worker from Luzon further shared that many do not have formal contracts or union representation. Such programmes give them hope for sustained livelihoods and better futures for workers and their families.
In General Santos City, DOLE XII Regional Director Joel Gonzales emphasized embedding inclusive social protection into the GA Roadmap’s pillars. “Formalization, transition support, and human resource development must be prioritized,” he said.
A transport cooperative leader added, “Modernization plans must include sustainable protection for small players like us who are vulnerable to displacement.”
Moreover, the consultations underscored the need for family-friendly policies to support women, children, and families within these sectors. Jennifer Bretaña, Regional Director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) VII, stated, “Decent work must be backed by inclusive policies. Jobs should be ‘matatag’—resilient and secure.”
Findings from these dialogues were consolidated and discussed in the national validation workshop to finalize the GA Roadmap and its integration into the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (Jobs for the Nation), the Philippines’ master plan for employment generation and recovery.
The UN Joint Programme aligns with the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act and aims to provide technical and financial assistance to the Philippines’ GA Roadmap. All Joint SDG Fund programmes are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by UN agencies, with support from the European Union and governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and private sector partners.
This collaborative effort represents a transformative movement toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, ensuring that no worker is left behind.
