CSC strengthens government workers’ right to organize

MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has strengthened the policy on government workers’ right to organize as it launched the consolidated rules and regulations on conciliation services, the effectivity of collective negotiation agreements and recognition of national employees’ organizations.

“Good employee relations are vital in advancing employee welfare and participatory governance,” CSC Chairman Karlo Nograles said on Monday during the ceremonial signing of the 2024 Rules and Regulations Governing the Exercise of the Right of Government Employees to Organize.

The event was held at the Justice Hall of the Department of Justice building in Manila.

Among the key features of the 2024 Rules and Regulations is the inclusion of the latest policies on the administration of a public sector employee organization, establishment of employees’ organization transition group, merger and consolidation, as well as change of name and modes of dissolution of employees’ organizations, the CSC said.

It also includes the latest policies on the determination of the sole and exclusive negotiating agent, dispute resolution and automatic accreditation of the winner in a certification election, the CSC noted.

The 2024 Rules and Regulations is an integration of promulgated and published policy resolutions approved by the Public Sector Labor Management Council (PSLMC) over the years, following the latest amendment in 2004, the CSC said.

Nograles is chair of the PSLMC.

“We recognize that the new rules and regulations may not be absolutely perfect, considering the dynamic environment that they will operate within. However, this acknowledgment should not deter us from actively engaging in shaping the trajectory of employee relations in the public sector,” he maintained.

The PSLMC shall have the authority to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the exercise of the right to self-organization in the public sector, according to Executive Order No. 180 signed on June 1, 1987.

PSLMC vice chair and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Justice Undersecretary Fredderick Vida, Finance Undersecretary Niño Raymond Alvina and Budget Undersecretary Leo Angelo Larcia attended the event.