PH Launches Tripartite Project vs. Child Labor, Rights Violations

A newly formed tripartite panel composed of Philippine government agencies, workers’ groups, and employers’ representatives has formally convened to steer a five-year labor reform initiative focused on freedom of association (FOA) and the elimination of child labor.

The Project Advisory Committee (PAC) of the “Strengthening Freedom of Association and Action Against Child Labor” (FOA-CL) project held its inaugural meeting on May 15, 2025, in Quezon City, marking the start of strategic planning and coordination among key labor stakeholders.

The FOA-CL project is supported by Canada’s Employment and Social Development (ESDC) Labor Program and implemented in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The PAC is co-chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the ILO, with members including the Commission on Human Rights, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine Information Agency, the Philippine National Police, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, employers’ organizations, and labor unions.

Broadly, the FOA-CL project aims to enhance the enforcement of Philippine labor laws in line with international standards, focusing on workers’ rights to organize and ending exploitative child labor practices.

The initiative directly supports the 2023 recommendations of the High-Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM) to the Philippines, which called for stronger institutional mechanisms, increased union rights protections, and systemic efforts to eradicate child labor.

At its core, the project promotes a Tripartite FOA Roadmap that seeks to guarantee workers’ right to form and join unions, and it reinforces the Philippine Programme Against Child Labour by ensuring affected children are removed from hazardous work and returned to education.

The PAC is mandated to provide strategic direction, monitor progress, and ensure alignment with national and international labor priorities, while fostering synergy with parallel programs implemented by social partners.

Key responsibilities include endorsing annual work plans, guiding resource allocation, coordinating implementation, and advocating for wider stakeholder engagement.

The PAC will also regularly review its terms of reference (TOR), institutional arrangements, and accountability mechanisms, adjusting priorities as needed in response to changing labor dynamics.

“The FOA-CL project is a direct response to long-standing concerns about workers’ rights in the Philippines,” the ILO stated, noting the alignment of the project with the global Decent Work Agenda.

The FOA-CL roadmap also examines gender-specific labor barriers, including those affecting women workers’ ability to organize and children’s vulnerabilities that differ based on gender, poverty, and region.

The High-Level Tripartite Mission had earlier urged the Philippine government to consider establishing a Presidential Commission, reform the National Industrial Peace Council, and remove restrictions on lawful strikes and union formation.

By operationalizing these recommendations, the FOA-CL initiative is expected to catalyze more inclusive labor policies, reduce institutional resistance to union activity, and advance protections for vulnerable child workers.

The ILO emphasized that institutional collaboration and evidence-based policy reform are essential to securing sustainable labor rights in the country.

Through tripartite governance and international backing, the FOA-CL project positions the Philippines to strengthen its labor standards and align more closely with its international obligations under ILO Conventions No. 87 (Freedom of Association) and No. 138 and 182 (Minimum Age and Worst Forms of Child Labour).