ILO mission to meet with Congress leaders

MANILA, Philippines - A high level mission of the International Labor Organization (ILO) will meet members of Congress to discuss measures to protect Filipino workers.

ILO said the members of the mission will arrive next week to consult with Filipino lawmakers on legislation to conform to the provisions of the Convention on Freedom of Association.

The ILO Committee of Experts said the Philippines has yet to conform to the Convention.

“It will review legislative amendments and house bills pending before Congress as well as legislative gaps to bring national law in line with Convention No. 87,” ILO said.

The ILO mission team is composed of Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, director of the ILO International Labor Standards Department; Karen Curtis, deputy director of the ILO International Labor Standards Department and responsible for Freedom of Association; and Tim de Meyer, International Labor Standards Specialist of the ILO Subregional Office for East Asia.

The ILO said the team would be in the country from Sept. 22 to 29 and would distribute copies of their report to workers and employers’ groups.

The mission is also scheduled to meet government officials, workers and employers’ organizations and conduct plant visits. 

ILO pointed out the Philippines was among 25 countries under investigation for alleged trade union complaints and other labor-related cases.

Last June, the Philippine government agreed to the deployment of a high-level mission in the country and identify areas in which the ILO could provide support and technical assistance for effective application of the Convention.

All relevant information, including additional comments, will be brought to the attention of the ILO’s supervisory bodies.

Workers’ groups welcomed the planned visit of ILO officials and expressed confidence that its recommendation will end the alleged war against trade unions in the country.

Members of the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) said the ILO mission is expected to “expose the roots” of the repressive labor relations in the Philippines.