Philippines elected vice chair in ILO government group

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time in 100 years, the Philippines has been elevated as vice chair of a group representing governments in the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Geneva reported that the Philippines has been elected vice chair and will automatically take the chairmanship of the government group in 2021.

“This milestone, I believe, gives hope to countries that have no voice and no vote in the ILO,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said in reaction to the POLO report.

He said the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the POLO in Geneva have been pursuing a substantial seat in the ILO.

Labor attaché Cheryl Daytec said it is the first time in a hundred years of the ILO that an observer nation is elected as vice chair of its government group.

The Philippines will automatically take over the chairmanship in 2021 when its term as vice chair expires.

Observers say that chairmanship of the body is a key position in the setting of global labor standards.

Last year, the ILO adopted the 2019 Centenary Declaration which called for “full, equal and more democratic” participation of all its constituents in the crafting of global labor standards, policies and programs.