Iloilo Tripartite Councils launched, eye continuous and larger dialogues

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-6 through its Iloilo Field Office reorganized the Industrial Tripartite Councils (ITCs) of key player industries in the Province of Iloilo particularly Construction, Education, Hospital, Hotels and Restaurants, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Manufacturing, Transport and Contractors and Subcontractors.

The ITC and/or the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC) serves as the main consultative and advisory mechanism lodged with the DOLE. It functions primarily as a forum for tripartite advisement and consultation among organized labor, employer and government in the formulation and implementation of labor and employment policies.

“We gather the employers and employees’ representatives of various establishments to address the prevailing issues affecting their concerned industry, as well as inform them of the various programs and services of the DOLE, especially those affecting labor, employment and other related concerns,” said Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez, Jr.

Only the largest establishments belonging to each of the concerned industry were convened as a preliminary activity for the continuous activity of the council.

“We have only initially called for a small group meeting to reorganize the ITC of each of the industry we have identified, since the program has some financial constraints. But we are determined to reorganize the ITCs in Iloilo since their role is vital in addressing various labor and employment related concerns,” DOLE-IFO TIPC Focal Person Ma. Cecilia S. Acebuque said.

First to convene were the Construction, Education, Hospital, and Hotels and Restaurants, followed by the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Manufacturing, Transport, and Contractors and Subcontractors industries.

The concept of tripartism was revisited and reintroduced to the participants – its role in the formation of the council, and its scheme in the formulation of DOLE policies. The latest DOLE issuances were also discussed, as well as the Family Welfare Program (FWP).

During the series of meetings, each industry raised particular concerns that affect the operation of their respective workplaces, from contradicting issuances of certain national government agencies to non-compliance of establishments with certain mandatory standards.

“We have heard several concerns coming from each of the industries we have convened, and we are delighted that the activity achieved its purpose of gathering their issues for us to address them properly,” Acebuque said.

Interim representatives for the employers’ group and employees’ alike, were also chosen to represent their respective ITCs whenever DOLE-IFO would call for the Provincial Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (PTIPC) Meeting. This is to ensure that all industries identified is well represented.

According to DOLE-IFO Head Melisa S. Navarra, sometime in 2014 or 2015, the Iloilo Province had already created the ITC for Education, and was even set to create its Voluntary Code of Good Practices (VCGP).

“The Council was truly helpful that time especially during the hype of the K to 12 Program planning and implementation. Because of that, we wanted to organize again, not only of the Education, but the ITCs of all the industries in the Province for we have already experience how significant their role can be in the policy-making process of the Department”, added Navarra.

At the end of each meeting, participants aired their desire to sustain the Council, and look forward to take part in the succeeding meetings, but with larger number of representatives from all covered establishments.

“We’ll find a way that we can gather, if not all, a large number of establishments under each industry for us to solicit more inputs. Collective opinions and views are what we need in order to deliver more efficiently the interventions of the national government agency”, said Navarra.