ISSUE 14, SEPT 2009 Manila, Philippines

Narrowing Decent Work Deficits: The Philippine Common Agenda 2008-2010

Alongside with the realities of labor and employment situation in the country, the tripartite and the social partners embarked on developing the Philippine Decent Work Common Agenda a comprehensive plan of priority initiatives, representing the areas of consensus that the tripartite partners will pursue according to the four pillars of decent work. The first Philippine Common Agenda covering the period 2002-2004, focused on advocacy efforts to introduce the decent work concept in the Philippine development perspective. Thus, the pursuit of full, decent, and productive employment was integrated into the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan for 2001 to 2004. Another pioneering initiative completed during this period was the development of the Philippine Labor Index (PLI). Similar to the Human Development Index, the PLI is a summary measure that monitors the progress of attaining the countrys labor and employment goals. Social dialogue was also strengthened through social accords on attaining decent work goals among the tripartite partners. Social accords, traditionally focusing on maintaining industrial peace where expanded to include commitments that promote social accountability, core labor standards, safety and health of workers, recognition of rights of workers, and good governance. The theme for the third cycle Narrowing Decent Work Deficits acknowledges gains made during the first and second cycle but at the same time recognizes that a lot more needs to be done. It embodies the tripartite and other stakeholders aspiration of addressing and reducing decent work gaps to enhance workforce productivity, competitiveness, representation and equity at work. WORKFORCE PRODUCTIVITY & COMPETITIVENESS The tripartite partners focused on workforce productivity and competitiveness in recognition of the fact that human resource - remains and continues to be the strength and competitive advantage of the country. Decent work plays a critical role in sustaining this strength because decent work leads to greater productivity, which if provided with support at the firm and national level can lead to competitiveness. The plan to develop an integrated and multi-stakeholder employment strategy at the national level towards decent work, productivity and competitiveness will be a key element in achieving this outcome, together with the various initiatives on skills enhancement that will be aggressively pursued by the tripartite partners. Several occupational safety and health initiatives - to ensure that workers are safe, healthy and protected from work-related illnesses and injuries and thereby contribute to their productivity will also be implemented. Tripartism will continue to be strengthened and initiatives to ensure representation for other group of workers will also be pursued as the tripartite increases its efforts to build on existing social dialogue mechanisms.

This paper was written by the research associates and specialists of the Workers Welfare Research Division with the collaboration of the National Tripartite Advisory Committee.
ISSUE 14 Narrowing Decent Work Deficits: The Philippine Common Agenda, 2008-2010

The Agenda revolves around three sectoral priorities: (a) Formal Sector Workers; (b) Informal Sector Workers; and (3) Migrant Workers. The basis for the selection derives from cognizance of gaping decent work deficits in these sectors deemed most vulnerable. GOAL: To reduce decent work gaps by enhancing workforce productivity, competitiveness, representation and equity at work Strategic Objective 1: Promote and realize standards, fundamental principles and rights at work Intended Outcome: Enabling policy environment for the protection and effective implementation of the rights and welfare of workers strengthened. Strategic Objective 2: Create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and incomes Intended Outcome: Employment Opportunities, entrepreneurship, sustainable enterprises, and skills development promoted and facilitated.

Strategic Objective 3: Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all Intended Outcome: Access to social protection mechanisms for all ensured, and safe work promoted Strategic Objective 4: Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue Intended Outcome: Tripartism strengthened and representation for other groups of workers ensured. Decent Work Third Cycle: The Way Forward Managing for results. To ensure accountability for programming activities and results and the use of resources, while fostering national ownership, appropriate management arrangements and oversight of programming activities for the common agenda need to be established both at programme and project levels. Requirements for such management and oversight arrangements include the following functions as illustrated in Figure 1.

SUSTAININg OUTCOMES. This third cycle of implementation of the Decent Work Common Agenda will focus on mainstreaming of Decent Work necessary to sustain the gains made in the previous cycles. Essentially, the focus of mainstreaming will be at the regional and local level to address low awareness on the concepts and processes of decent work among tripartite partners in these areas. One major area that the Agenda will focus on is the Localization of Decent Work at the Regional Tripartite Industrail Peace Councils. This project aims to generate active participation and involvement of Regional TIPC in promoting decent work initiatives in their respective areas. In developing the Decent Work Common Agenda, it is important to ensure that decisions are based on tripartite consensus; participatory process is observed for the whole program cycle; and outcomes are results-based, impact-oriented, and with clear accountabilities.
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ISSUE 14 Narrowing Decent Work Deficits: The Philippine Common Agenda, 2008-2010