DOLE reviews labor and employment plan in Iloilo

The Department of Labor and Employment, led by Bureau of Labor Relations Director Atty. Arturo Alfonso J. Herbosa, conducted the Regional Consultation and Midterm Review of the Philippine Labor and Employment Plan in Western Visayas on Oct. 20, 2025, at District 21 Hotel in Iloilo City.

Participants included members of the Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, government agency representatives, employers and workers from key employment-generating industries, academic partners, and members of basic sectors such as persons with disabilities, youth, farmers and fisherfolk, as well as the Regional Coordinating Council.

The consultation aimed to assess the progress of the 2023–2028 Philippine Labor and Employment Plan in achieving its core goals of maximizing remunerative work opportunities, ensuring labor governance and rights, and building equitable and inclusive social protection for all Filipinos.

Director Herbosa presented the plan’s overall progress, highlighting key policy advances and labor market reforms that continue to shape the national employment landscape.

Assistant Regional Director Melisa S. Navarra of DOLE Region 6 discussed regional milestones, emphasizing achievements in job facilitation, compliance enforcement, and social protection initiatives that have made a positive impact on workers and employers.

Ma. Leah L. Letrero of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development gave an orientation on the “Trabaho Para sa Bayan” program, aligning regional employment strategies with the broader national development framework.

Presentations on current labor themes further enriched the discussion, with Atty. Queen Therese D. Espinas of the International Labor Studies introducing Singapore’s Progressive Wage Model, which links wage increases for low-income workers to skills development, productivity, and career growth.

Director Herbosa also explored the platform economy — a rapidly evolving labor trend driven by digital workspaces and employment platforms.

In the afternoon, participants engaged in breakout sessions to revisit the plan’s priority areas through group discussions, idea sharing, collaborative planning, and the drafting of actionable proposals.

The workshop focused on three priorities of the plan: Priority 1 emphasized maximizing productive, freely chosen, and sustainable employment opportunities; Priority 2 focused on effective labor market governance that upholds workers’ rights in alignment with international standards; and Priority 3 addressed building an equitable and inclusive social protection system.

Group outputs presented during the plenary session reflected a collective commitment to strengthening policies and programs that respond to emerging employment challenges while keeping decent work central to development.

In her closing remarks, ARD Navarra thanked participants for their active engagement and described the consultation as a collaborative effort to shape a labor environment that values both opportunity and equity.

DOLE Region 6 Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. expressed optimism about the consultation’s outcomes, calling it a pivotal step toward ensuring that the 2023–2028 labor plan remains responsive to the evolving needs of workers and industries in Western Visayas and across the country.