Decent work
Philippines joins global call for fairer, more secure future for workers
The Philippines participates in global efforts to champion fair wages, decent jobs, and stronger social protection, reinforcing its commitment to an inclusive and sustainable future of work.
14 November 2025
MANILA (ILO News) - The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to advancing fair wages, decent jobs, and stronger social protection by joining world leaders at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar.
The summit, convened by the United Nations and chaired by International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo, served as a platform to strengthen global cooperation for a more inclusive and sustainable future of work.
Representing the country, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary Warren M. Miclat participated in the Global Coalition for Social Justice Forum, emphasizing the Philippines’ support for initiatives that promote fairness and resilience in labour markets.
“In line with Paragraph III-H of the Doha Political Declaration, which calls for support to the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, the Philippines values this platform as an essential mechanism to deepen collaboration among ILO constituents toward fairness, inclusivity, and sustainability in the world of work,” Miclat said on behalf of the Philippine Government.
Miclat outlined the country’s ongoing efforts to translate these principles into concrete policies. These include developing a family living wage methodology aligned with international standards, strengthening social protection systems to safeguard workers, and expanding opportunities for decent and green jobs in line with the administration’s development agenda.
The Philippines has also validated its national roadmap on decent jobs and social protection with the ILO, UNDP, and UNICEF. This roadmap will guide policies in key sectors such as construction and transportation.
For Filipino workers, these global engagements mean more than participation in international forums. They translate into fairer pay, stronger protection, and sustainable jobs that adapt to climate and economic shifts.
Miclat added that as the Philippines prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026, DOLE will advocate for labour market resilience and social justice as top priorities in regional cooperation.
“We aim to align our labour and employment agenda with the objectives of the coalition, placing social justice, labour market resilience, and social protection at the forefront of ASEAN priorities,” he said.
Through these engagements, DOLE aims to ensure that Filipino workers, regardless of their industries, benefit from policies shaped by global cooperation and a shared vision for a fairer, more inclusive future of work.
DOLE Undersecretary Miclat, along with the head of the Philippine delegation, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, also joined two high-level roundtable discussions on strengthening the pillars of social development and advancing the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Also part of the Philippine delegation were Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns Director Leilani M. Reynoso, other DSWD undersecretaries, Office of the Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Secretary Lorenzo G. Gadon, and Ambassador Mardomel Celo D. Melicor, among others.