INTRODUCTION

For purpose of the record,  this paper was written upon the invitation of the Institute of Labor Studies (ILS), Department of Labor and Employment, for presentation in the Conference it has organized in cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung on the theme The Philippine Labor Code: 30 Years and Beyond.  As suggested by the ILS, the paper focuses on the subject of Labor Standards and Self-Regulation in Business. 

IDENTIFYING THE ISSUES

The assigned title of this paper, Labor Standards and Self-Regulation in Business, gives rise to a variety of connotations depending on whether it is based on the Labor Code with its limited context or extends to applicable global labor standards with all its diverse and expanded ramifications brought about by globalization.  It is in this context that the following framework of topical issues was developed for analytical discussion in this paper:

1.  The limited concept of “labor standards” under the Labor Code;

2.  The proliferation of new labor standards not found in the Labor Code but contained in special laws;

3.  Other labor standards established by policy;

4.  The emergence of global labor standards;

5.  The intrinsic limitations in coverage of labor standards;

6.  The persistent populist bias of labor standards and labor market policies;

7.  Addressing the procrustean aspects of labor standards in the context of the Philippine labor market; and

8.  Self-Regulation through corporate social responsibility.