Philippines obtains $1-million ILO grant for labor law compliance

MALACAÑANG announced on Sunday that the International Labor Organization (ILO) has approved a $1-million grant to support a labor laws compliance system (LLCS) initiative.

The LLCS is intended to help boost the country’s capacity to “enforce all labor laws,” Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr., said in a radio interview aired over state-run Radyo ng Bayan, adding that President Benigno S. C. Aquino III has endorsed 372 new permanent government positions for labor law compliance officers.

The LLCS, as outlined in a Department of Labor and Employment Order 131, S. 2013, combines developmental and regulatory approaches in the enforcement of labor laws and social legislation, which, among others, encourages voluntary compliance with all labor laws, including safety and health regulations, and fosters labor-management cooperation through social dialogue.

Mr. Coloma said as of November, a total of 69,749 establishments all over the country or 90% of the targeted establishments of 70,766 have been covered under the LLCS. Some 333,136 workers from 60,479 establishments have received benefits amounting to P69.425 million in plant-level restitution.

The ILO, a United Nations agency, extended the grant with the input of the US government, which is seeking to promote broader adoption of labor standards worldwide.

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., in a statement, said the grant was intended “to help improve the effectiveness of labor inspections in the Philippines, particularly in the areas of general labor standards, occupational safety and health, and labor rights.”

“In selecting the Philippines for the technical assistance, the US (Department of Labor)’s International Labor Affairs Bureau noted the number of steps taken by the Philippines to increase staff and enhance technology in labor inspections. It said the grant will assist in these efforts by improving labor law compliance and labor rights monitoring,” he said.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz, in a separate statement said the technical assistance grant is an “affirmation of the efficacy of the new labor laws compliance system” currently in place. — Imee Charlee C. Delavin, Businessworld