ILS - DOLE

Labor Diplomacy goes live online at the Working World Trialogues (WWT) at the Microsoft Headquarters in Makati from May 13-14. The two-day event, organized by labor think tank Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) is the first online gathering of government, civil society leaders and Filipino labor attaches and welfare officers around the world.

“There is a constant increase in the number of Filipino migrant workers each year. We need to pay closer attention on the Philippines’ migrant worker issues in its bilateral, regional and multilateral relations throughout the world. Protection of their rights and welfare has become an explicit state policy,” said Cynthia R. Cruz, executive director of the ILS, the research arm of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“In recent years overseas employment has played a significant role in keeping the economy vibrant and resilient. The development of a Philippine labor diplomacy agenda is now becoming more important and necessary than ever,” Cruz added. Invited to the Trialogues are diplomats and attaches from various government agencies involved in work with Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Labor attaches will be able to participate in the discussions of the Trialogues through the video
conferencing facilities of Microsoft Philippines. The first day will feature presentations on general diplomacy concerns and migration issues by experts from the diplomatic corps. The second day will look into the diverse experiences and cases of officials from various government agencies on their diplomatic engagements and undertakings.

A Labor Diplomacy Agenda

The WWT aims to generate ideas and insights on the development and crafting of a labor diplomacy agenda of the Philippines towards protecting millions of OFWs around the globe.

“Labor diplomacy largely means international affairs or foreign policy that promotes the labor and employment goals of the country,” Cruz stressed. “Through labor diplomacy, we can advocate for support to the country’s labor and employment-related goals in international forums. Likewise, we can provide information on economic, social and political issues in the host countries, as well as labor market information, from which basis for policy-making and program development can be drawn.”

“We envision a labor diplomacy program that would be centered on advancing the labor and employment interests of the Philippines in its international affairs and would serve as an overarching framework for a people-centered management of Philippine international affairs,” said Cruz.

The WWT is a public forum organized by the ILS. A Trialogue is designed especially for issues on labor and employment that involve multiple stakeholders that need fast-tracked solutions. It is where emerging and urgent labor and employment issues and solutions are discussed among stakeholders and experts.